The Washington County Board of Supervisors were presented an update on the crisis services available in the county at their Tuesday meeting. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Since 2014, Washington County Hospital and Clinics has had mental health crisis services available in its Emergency Room. The pilot program began in Washington with Hillcrest Family Services and has since branched out to surrounding counties. Chris Betsworth, crisis manager, explained at Tuesday’s Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting they have two prongs of services – the ER services and office services, where people can meet with therapists. In Fiscal Year 2016 they had 72 patients assessed at the ER, of those 14 were minors. About half of those had law enforcement involvement at the time of presentation. Also, 65% of the 72 patients were not hospitalized, but treated with out-patient services.

Supervisor chairman Richard Young added it’s saving the county money while helping people, and cutting down on the number of transports the ambulance service has to do to help people with mental health care. Bobbie Wulf, Washington County’s coordinator for mental health and disability services, said that was one factor in starting the program, along with the frequent shortage in mental health beds available in Iowa.

Young added he hopes to see the services extended. Currently the ER services are only available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Betsworth said he hopes to expand his staff soon and extend those hours.