Emergency Psychiatric Services at Old Bridge Medical Center

Crisis Stabilization and Referral Services

Old Bridge Medical Center offers emergency psychiatric services 24 hours a day in a secure and safe setting. Our psychiatric emergency services team includes psychiatrists, nurses and clinical professionals with a passion and specialized expertise to care for individuals in crisis. 

These services and care, provided in our emergency department, allows us to conduct evaluations immediately, de-escalate and stabilize individuals who are experiencing a psychiatric crisis or episode. The emergency psychiatric services team includes psychiatrists, behavioral health nurses, physicians and behavioral health professionals with special training and expertise.

Individuals requiring emergency psychiatric services may be exhibiting behavior that is a danger to themselves or others, acting erratically, hostile, aggressive or agitated.

This behavior may include:

• Suicidal thoughts or actions
• Psychosis or psychotic behavior
• Homicidal thoughts or actions

Our emergency department team is trained to determine if there is also a medical emergency. If there are medical conditions requiring immediate attention, we treat the patient in our regular emergency room where medical physicians and our psychiatrists collaborate to treat all the immediate needs of patients.

Stabilization and Referral to Appropriate Care

Upon arrival, we assess and stabilize the individual and determine the appropriate level of care needed. After an evaluation, we may recommend the individual be admitted to an inpatient unit for additional care where they can receive 24/7 care and observation.

If inpatient care is necessary, we may refer to a specialized hospital or unit in the area including:

Carrier Behavioral Health at Raritan Bay Medical Center

Carrier Clinic

If the individual is stabilized, we may discharge them and recommend continued care within the community. That care may be with a previous psychiatrist or therapist, or we will assist in recommending a mental health professional or resources to provide follow-up treatment.

Our emergency department staff do not typically prescribe ongoing medications when discharging a patient. Instead, we direct the patient to their regular physician for pharmaceutical therapies and ongoing monitoring and needed adjustments to medication.