Behavioral Health Services
When faced with a behavioral health emergency, not only is time important, but it is vital to ensure that the appropriate level of care is provided during the crisis and in the future. UPMC Mercy offers behavioral health services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our goal is to help people with mental illness, mental retardation, and addiction issues thrive in their communities.
The Evaluation and Referral Center
The Evaluation and Referral Center (ERC) serves as the front door for behavioral health patients. Emergency services can be accessed on a walk-in basis. Some clients are referred by an outpatient provider, family member, police, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professional, a mobile crisis team clinician, or another health care provider. The ERC assesses the individual in crisis and, based on the information obtained during the assessment, recommends the appropriate level of care and placement for services.
After being evaluated by a UPMC Mercy clinician, the patient may be admitted to an inpatient facility, discharged, or referred to an outpatient program for services and/or a diversion and acute stabilization program in conjunction with outpatient services.
Consultation Services
Psychiatric consult services provide inpatient psychiatric consultation, resource coordination, education, disposition, transfer, and crisis intervention for psychiatric and dual-diagnosis patients.
Inpatient Services
Individuals who require inpatient care will be admitted to the unit that is most appropriate for the consumer’s individual health care needs: the Adult Behavioral Unit aor the Dual Diagnosis Unit.
Each of UPMC Mercy’s inpatient units has a specific program that allows for individual, group, and family therapy/education by a multidisciplinary group of trained staff. Individuals are encouraged to participate in the development and ongoing revisions of their treatment plan to ensure that identified goals are met.
Patients are encouraged to participate in all therapeutic programs to which they have been assigned to work toward individual goal attainment.
Medical care on the unit is coordinated by a physician. Primary care physicians(PCPs) may participate in medical treatment if they are on staff at UPMC Mercy. If the individual's PCP is not on staff, the patient will have to sign a release to ensure that continuity can be provided between health care practitioners. The psychiatrist serves as the attending physician. Psychiatrists see each patient daily and make decisions for medication therapy, continued inpatient treatment, or another appropriate level of care.
Discharge planning will help identify the best outpatient program to provide ongoing services after the immediate crisis has been resolved. The discharge planning process is initiated at the time of admission so that social services staff can determine what services need to be in place for a successful transition.
Adult Behavioral Health Unit
This is a licensed 24-bed unit for voluntarily and involuntarily committed patients, 18 years old and older, who are identified to be in crisis. Patients on this unit may be experiencing symptoms associated with mood or thought disorders.
Dual Diagnosis Unit
This is a licensed 10-bed unit for voluntarily and involuntarily committed patients, 18 years old and older, who require the program and structure to deal with mental health issues and substance abuse problems.
Contact Us
- UPMC Mercy’s 24-Hour Evaluation
and Referral Center (ERC): 412-232-8800
- UPMC Physician Referral: 1-800-533-UPMC (8762)
- Visiting hours and general information: 412-232-8111
- Re:solve Crisis Network: 1-888-YOU-CAN (1-888-796-8226)