Change in Practice Alert: Admission of 18-year-olds to psychiatric units & PHP

Effective Thursday, October 1, any patient who is 18 years old or older will not be admitted to a CCHMC Psychiatry Inpatient unit or to the Partial Hospital Programs (PHP).  We are implementing this process to ensure consistency of admitting practices.  This change is also consistent with our license from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to provide inpatient psychiatric services for children and adolescents.

If a patient turns 18 while admitted to a psychiatric unit, they will remain at CCHMC on a voluntary basis until discharge. 

If a patient 18 years old or older presents for a psychiatric evaluation to CCHMC Emergency Departments (ED) at Base or Liberty Campus, the ED physician will complete a medical screen.  The PIRC staff will complete the Adult Risk Screen to determine if the patient needs to be transferred to an adult ED which provides psychiatric care for further psychiatric evaluation.

School status does not affect this plan. 

This change in process does not include patients who are part of our neurobehavioral continuum.  This patient population will continue to be admitted until the age of 22.   

If you have any questions regarding this change in practice, please contact Linda Richey at 513.636.0211 or email Linda.Richey@cchmc.org .