Many persons in psychiatric crisis receive care in emergency departments (EDs) and hospitals. These visits are important opportunities to provide high quality behavioral health care for persons from underserved communities and for those with heightened risk of self-harm, suicide, or overdose.
The Hospital Follow-up Program provides free follow-up services to patients who have received behavioral health services in any ED or hospital in Colorado. This Program is provided by the Division of Community, Population, and Public Mental Health with support from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Office of Suicide Prevention.
More than 90% of suicide decedents have a healthcare encounter in the year before their death. Patients who have behavioral health visits in EDs and hospital are at particularly high risk, and the period after discharge is a critical opportunity for patients to connect to care and re-establish support from family, friends, and communities who will be part of their recovery.
Unfortunately, all too often, patients fail to make these critical connections after hospital discharge. The Hospital Follow-up Program makes it possible for all Coloradans to receive evidence-based suicide prevention and behavioral health care after discharge.
You can learn more about Hospital Follow-up from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s at this link.
Healthcare providers can refer patients using an online webform or call our team at 303-724-7026 during business hours. Our Follow-up Specialists then contact patients within 2 days to offer a caring contact, review safety planning, and assist with connection to ongoing care. Our services are free to patients and hospitals and provided regardless of patients’ diagnosis, insurance status, or background. We serve both you and adult patients. Patients ages 10-19 may benefit from expedited referrals to our partners at Second Wind Fund.
You can contact are team at DOP-CUHospitalFollowUp@cuanschutz.edu