Representatives from Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center attend the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce ACCESS luncheon May 19 at the Citrus Heights Event Center. From left are Sheri Merrick, Maryann Lansangan, Ashwini C., Jennifer M., Daryl Croning and Amanda Camacho.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - What began as a networking luncheon for business and community leaders also became a spotlight on mental health care in the region. Officials highlighted how a specialized crisis unit at Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center is working to reduce psychiatric patient wait times in local emergency rooms.

Hosted May 19 at the Citrus Heights Event Center, the ACCESS Citrus Heights Luncheon brought together business professionals, elected officials and community members for discussions on local issues and initiatives.

The event was sponsored by Citrus Heights Water District and Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center. Lunch was provided by Olive Garden.

During the luncheon, the Citrus Heights Leadership Class presented a donation of $3,164.79 to Citrus Heights Arts for its class project. 

The Citrus Heights Leadership Class presented a donation of $3,164.79 to Citrus Heights Arts for its class project. 

Keynote speaker Daryl Croning, an emergency room nurse and leader of Mercy San Juan’s Crisis Stabilization Unit, spoke about the growing demand for behavioral health services and the role the CSU plays in helping patients experiencing psychiatric crises.

Croning said the unit, which opened in 2019 through a partnership with Sacramento County, was designed to provide patients with faster access to psychiatric care while easing pressure on overcrowded emergency rooms.

“Patients go to the ER in crisis,” Croning said. “They come to us within about three hours, and they get appropriate care very quickly.”

Before the CSU opened, psychiatric patients could remain in emergency rooms for more than a day waiting for an inpatient bed, according to Croning. He said some patients waited up to 33 hours.

“A patient in crisis does not want to sit in the ER miserable for a day waiting for a bed,” he said.

The CSU is located next to Mercy San Juan’s emergency department and serves adults 18 and older who have first been medically cleared in the ER. The facility is not intended for long-term care, but rather short-term stabilization and treatment.

Patients are evaluated by psychiatrists, nurses and social workers, with additional support from peer navigators and security staff. Croning said about half of patients treated at the CSU are stabilized and able to return home within 24 hours, while others are transferred to inpatient psychiatric facilities for continued care.

“We’ve seen over 11,000 patients since we opened in 2019,” Croning said.

The unit operates around the clock with behavioral health-trained nurses and psychiatric staff, including on-site and telemedicine psychiatrists. Croning said the goal is to begin treatment immediately so patients can stabilize faster.

Croning also addressed challenges tied to homelessness and repeat psychiatric emergencies during a question-and-answer session following his presentation.

“We have a constant flow of homeless patients,” he said. “We get them stabilized and back on their medication.”

Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce ambassadors stand alongside new chamber member, Play Makers, a non-profit organization focused on inclusiveness and developmental differences. 

He said staff work with local facilities, therapists and pharmacies to connect patients with housing resources, follow-up appointments and medication supplies before discharge.

When asked whether the CSU tracks repeat visits, Croning said some patients do return regularly because of ongoing mental health instability and limited resources in the community.

“There’s a certain number, like 15% to 20%, who come back on a regular basis,” he said.

Croning said the CSU model is helping hospitals respond more efficiently to behavioral health emergencies while improving care for patients.

“Units like mine can decompress yours and give quality care quickly to patients,” he said.

The next ACCESS Citrus Heights Luncheon is scheduled for June 16 and will feature the leadership team from Sac Metro Fire.