Electronic Health Record Documentation of Psychiatric Assessments in Massachusetts Emergency Department and Outpatient Settings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
Question
How did documentation of psychiatric symptoms in outpatient and emergency room settings change with onset of COVID-19 infection in Eastern Massachusetts?
Findings
In this cohort study spanning 2 academic medical centers and 3 community hospitals, prevalence of narrative notes referencing depression or anxiety decreased 75-81% in outpatient settings following onset of coronavirus in March 2019, and by 44–45% in emergency departments.
Meaning
The observation that documentation of psychiatric symptoms declined sharply with increasing coronavirus infection in Massachusetts, even as prevalence of such symptoms is anticipated to increase, suggests additional efforts may be required to address these symptoms in the context of COVID-19.
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