MODERNIZATION OF THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL: IS IT POSSIBLE

Abstract

Introduction: With advancements in mental health policy, the Juliano Moreira Hospital, located in Salvador in the state of Bahia, a state-run public institution specializing in psychiatry, has shifted its service delivery model, prioritizing specific mental health emergency situations. Methods: This descriptive study covers the period from January 2019 to December 2023, reporting on structural and organizational changes implemented in recent years. The data presented were collected from the Medical Accounts sector of the hospital. Results: During the studied period, there was a 41.8% increase in the average number of emergency visits, a 17.9% increase in admissions, and a 57.9% reduction in the average length of stay. Discussion: Between 2019 and 2023, the hospital underwent several modernizations to improve care, focusing on humanization and multidisciplinary care, with better outcomes in acute cases. Key changes included the implementation of Risk Classification in the Emergency Department, electronic medical records, integrative practices, and a safety culture. There were also advances in the psychosocial rehabilitation of long-term hospitalizations.