Hospitals & Health Systems
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry for Emergency Departments & Medical Units
- ED Consults
- 24/7 Telepsychiatry
- Med-Surg Units
Overview
Psychiatric Consults That Keep Patients Moving
When a patient in the emergency department or on a medical/surgical floor needs a psychiatric evaluation, every hour of delay adds to ED boarding times, occupies a bed that could serve another patient, and puts pressure on nursing and medical staff who aren't trained to manage acute psychiatric symptoms. Consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry bridges that gap. IPC provides C-L psychiatric coverage for emergency departments and inpatient medical/surgical units, onsite or via telehealth.
For many hospitals, telepsychiatry is the practical way to guarantee C-L coverage around the clock without hiring a full-time, in-house psychiatrist for a role that may only be needed a few hours a day. IPC's providers are experienced in acute consult work, including capacity evaluations, risk assessments, and medical clearance.
Who We Serve
Hospitals and Health Systems We Support
Emergency Departments
EDs that need timely psychiatric evaluations to reduce boarding.
Medical & Surgical Units
Inpatient units managing patients with co-occurring psychiatric needs, including ICU, oncology, and labor and delivery.
Community & Rural Hospitals
Hospitals without an in-house psychiatry department.
Multi-Site Health Systems
Health systems that need consistent consult coverage across sites.
The Challenge
Why Psychiatric Consults Back Up Your Emergency Department
Hospitals without dedicated C-L psychiatry often rely on outside transfers, on-call arrangements with variable response times, or ED physicians managing psychiatric presentations outside their specialty.
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Longer boarding.
Delayed evaluations keep psychiatric patients in ED beds and slow throughput.
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Unnecessary transfers.
Patients may be sent out of network for evaluations that could be handled onsite.
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Strained staff.
Nursing and medical teams manage acute psychiatric symptoms they aren't trained for.
Our Services
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Services
Onsite and 24/7 telepsychiatry coverage designed around consult volume and response-time expectations.
Emergency Department
- Psychiatric evaluations for acute presentations
- Capacity and risk assessments
- Disposition support
- Medical clearance coordination
Medical & Surgical Units
- Consults for co-occurring psychiatric needs
- Intakes and follow-up visits
- Continuity of care through discharge
Coverage & Coordination
- 24/7 telepsychiatry options
- On-call services
- Coordination with ED and hospitalist teams
- Documentation and follow-up
ED Throughput
Coverage Designed to Reduce Boarding and Improve Throughput
IPC is accountable for consistent response times, not just staffing headcount, with telehealth infrastructure built and refined since before the pandemic.
Let’s ConnectHow we keep consults moving
- Rapid-turnaround consults
- After-hours and overnight coverage
- Providers matched to acute consult roles
- Clear documentation for disposition decisions
- Consistent response times
How We Provide Value
Faster Interventions, Wider Access
Telepsychiatry extends specialized psychiatric care across your hospital and health system.
Timely Interventions
Minimize wait times so patients receive critical psychiatric support when they need it.
Increased Access
Extend psychiatric services to underserved and remote locations across your system.
Continuity of Care
Support smooth transitions from inpatient to outpatient care to help prevent readmissions.
Why Hospitals Choose IPC
Accountable for response times, not just headcount.
Telepsychiatry coverage options
Provider retention
Partner retention
Telehealth infrastructure, refined for years
Partner Stories
Praise from our Partners
“I have worked in mental healthcare for over 30 years and know how important it is to provide high-quality care and maintain strong patient relationships. IPC is the best in the industry I have partnered with over that time. Their group’s physicians and team of professionals are experienced, insightful, knowledgeable, and caring. The IPC physicians work effectively with our care team of nursing and clinical staff and truly deliver individualized patient-focused behavioral health care. Having the ability to contact their team day or night helps us to maintain quality and continuity of care.”
Robert (Bobby) Eklofe
Executive Vice President, Inpatient Operations - Camber Mental Health, KVC Health Systems
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question that isn't answered here? Call (620) IPC-CALL or send us a message.
Can IPC provide 24/7 telepsychiatry coverage for our ED?
Yes. Many of our hospital partners use IPC specifically to cover after-hours and overnight consults when in-house psychiatry isn't available.
Do your providers have experience with acute consult work, not just outpatient psychiatry?
Yes. Our C-L psychiatric providers are matched to hospital consult roles, with experience in capacity evaluations, risk assessments, and rapid-turnaround consults.
What is consultation-liaison psychiatry?
Consultation-liaison psychiatry is the specialty that provides psychiatric evaluation and treatment recommendations for patients in emergency departments and medical or surgical units, working alongside the patient's primary medical team.
How does telepsychiatry help reduce ED boarding?
Telepsychiatry gives your ED access to a psychiatrist without waiting for one to arrive onsite, so evaluations and disposition decisions happen sooner and beds open up faster.
Get Started
Let's Talk About Your Hospital's Consult Coverage
Tell us about your consult volume, coverage hours, and timeline, and we'll design a C-L model that keeps patients moving.
Integrated Psychiatric Consultants
Office Hours:Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT