Behavioral and Mental Health Emergency/Medical Screening and Management
The aim of this study was to reduce low value care on patients requiring admission to the psychiatry unit by decreasing unnecessary testing and costs. We implemented a new evidence-based pathway. The amount of laboratory testing was reduced from 96.4% to 21.3% and cost related to psychiatry admissions were reduced by 11%.
Learning Objectives:
- To identify areas of low-value care in the management of mental health
- To describe an innovative approach for improvement
- To replicate a similar initiative to eliminate waste and improve quality of care

Veronica Etinger, MD
Director of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Dr Veronica Etinger is the Director of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida. She is board-certified in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospital Medicine. She is the co-director of the Clinical Effectiveness Program at the same institution since 2019. She has a special interest in process improvement and evidence-based care.
Recordings and Slides
Slides
© 2026 Individual Authors, Participating Institutions, and Pathways4Kids, Inc.
Shared for educational purposes with attribution required. All rights reserved.