Frequency and Duration of Boarding for Pediatric Mental Health Conditions at Acute Care Hospitals in the US

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Abstract
Emergency department (ED) visits for pediatric mental health conditions increased by 60% from 2007 to 2016.1 A shortage of psychiatric beds for youths requiring hospitalization may result in boarding, defined by the Joint Commission as “the practice of holding patients in the ED or another temporary location after the decision to admit or transfer has been made.”2 The Joint Commission has recommended a boarding duration of less than 4 hours to support patient safety and health care quality.2 However, no national studies have quantified the extent of pediatric mental health boarding.3 This study estimates the frequency and duration of boarding for pediatric mental health conditions at US acute care hospitals and describes hospital resources available to support youths during the boarding period.