Linking hospital and community.

A thorough crisis evaluation requires understanding of the client's premorbid personality, support systems, previous episodes of decompensation, past treatments, and the interaction of a precipitant with a particular personality structure. The key to a successful treatment model is the proper treatment of the client in his or her community. Thus, the development of adequate linkages within the system to support this effort becomes imperative. By utilizing problem-solving approaches and anticipatory planning, the Psychiatric Emergency Service is instrumental in achieving maximum positive outcomes through contact with the patient and multiple systems.