Patient Transfers: PPI’s Relationship with Local Hospitals
Charles B. Mormando, DO, is Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute’s (PPI) Medical Director for Admissions. He is also the Associate Director for neuromodulation, PPI’s lead on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) services and research and he plays a role in improving PPI’s access to local hospitals.
Previously a resident of New York, Dr. Mormando came to PPI in 2018 looking for a change from New York City living. Another driving force: his mentor, Andrew Francis, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized expert in catatonia, who leads the ECT department at PPI.
Apart from Dr. Mormando’s passion for ECT research and therapy, his role as PPI’s Admissions Medical Director has brought on other responsibilities.
Dr. Mormando further explains, “As the director for admissions, I receive referral requests from hospitals for the patients they think need the services of PPI. When a patient is in the emergency room (ER), they are either assessed by a doctor, or a psychiatrist is called in for consult. In general, providers only have basic training on psychiatric conditions, so they reach out to PPI for recommendations on care. This is where I step in to help to determine if admission is needed for treatment, and if PPI is the appropriate place for the patient.”
Because of the number of calls, texts and virtual consultations between Dr. Mormando and the various emergency departments, he has built good relationships with the referring doctors.
“Good psychiatric and ER doctor relationships help patient access to care. Through the relationships I’ve built with those in local ERs, I can access more information which helps to decide what is best for the patient. These relationships also help to make decisions for treatment without needing to see the patient in person, as the providers learn to help with screening. For everyone involved, these relationships bring a positive experience” notes Dr. Mormando.
As the medical director for the past two years, Dr. Mormando has been able to improve the admission process at PPI and adapt to changes, mainly brought on by the pandemic.
“During the pandemic, we saw several difficulties. Patient acuity significantly increased, and we saw an increase in involuntary admissions. Because of the increased acuity, we also saw the increased need for the use of restraints and medications. Not to mention, the increased need for care coupled with safety protocols made access to care difficult, overwhelmed emergency departments, and impacted our communication.”
Though the pandemic brought challenges, Dr. Mormando and his colleagues did not let it get the better of them. “Through everything, we have been able to improve the relationships with our parent hospitals.”
When asked about his goals to improve patient access, he responded: “Access to care is extremely limited. There are three things that I would love to see. First, we need enough staffing, mainly nurses. Second, improved community resources. And lastly, as a community, we are extremely limited when it comes to where patients can go, and if there’s enough room to admit them. We can deal with the acuity, if we are fully staffed and have proper resources to treat them.”
Please note, PPI is not a walk-in facility. Patients as well as referring physicians must begin the admissions process by calling 1(866) 746-2496 or (717) 782-6493.
If you are a person in need of immediate assistance, please go to your nearest Emergency Department or dial 911.
Click here for more information on our Admissions Department