AA In the ER

I'm sitting at the desk in our small office in the emergency department of a hospital in a northwestern suburb of Chicago, where I work as a psychiatric emergency therapist. It's a winter Sunday afternoon and my shift has just started. I get a call from the triage nurse. A fifty-eight-year-old man has just been brought in by local police officers after he called 911 asking for help because he was suicidal. He will require an emergency psychiatric assessment. A moment later there is a knock at the door, and three officers escort a man who is bent over and reeking of alcohol into my office. Before I can say anything, our new patient blurts out that he is going to kill himself, and that he is a Vietnam war veteran. I ask the police officers to assist me in getting the man to a room with a bed, so we can begin sorting things out. The police officers, as always, are very helpful. They treat this man with respect and dignity. We usher the patient to Room #12, which is our observation room, where the process can begin. With this patient, our goals will be as follows: safety, assessment, and assistance in developing the appropriate type and level of care.