INTRODUCTION

A psychiatric commitment hearing with a judge is necessary in cases in which a patient is not voluntarily seeking psychiatric treatment as an inpatient, but their safety or the safety of others is in jeopardy, or the patient is unable to care for herself/himself. In these cases, the medical staff or the patient’s family can request that the court determine that further treatment is warranted.

Following a reorganization of the Washtenaw County Court in 1998, judges stopped coming to the UMHHC to hold psychiatric patient commitment hearings. Without a judge's visit, it became necessary for Adult Inpatient Psychiatry to have a security officer transport the patient to the courthouse, with nurses, social workers, and psychiatric care workers accompanying the patient for the duration of the proceedings. A psychiatrist also was needed to testify in hearings that, with wait times included, sometimes kept Psychiatry staff away from the Hospital for an average of four hours.  The UMHHC Inpatient Psychiatry unit conducts approximately 85 commitment hearing per year, resulting in a significant loss of productivity on court days.

Why “Telecourt?”

* Staff (MD, SW, PCW) needed to transport involuntary patients and testify not available on inpatient unit for long periods of time (average 4 hours)

* No security backup provided while in courthouse, creating  a dangerous situation for patients, staff and public.

* Increase in number of patients going AWOL or attempting elopement while away from the hospital.

* Loss of dignity for patients in crisis waiting in a public location for commitment hearing.

* Hospital liability issues if patient flees, gets hurt or hurts others.