UofL Hospital is the region’s only specialty emergency room dedicated to the care, treatment and stabilization of patients with psychiatric disorders. We provide research-based, best-practice psychiatric and innovative care for adults with mental illness. We have the ability to treat psychiatric patients with co-morbid medical conditions that also require treatment, and our highly trained specialists provide a collaborative and comprehensive treatment approach. We are shaping tomorrow’s psychiatric care through research and education.


Our staff serves as a crisis intervention team to stabilize patients in emergency situations. We have two areas: treatment observation, and a 23-hour short stay unit. The Treatment Observation Room is the psychiatric emergency room, and the 23-hour observation unit is for patients who require further stabilization before being discharged or transferred to the inpatient unit or another facility. We are able to check-in patients directly instead of via the main emergency room.



Our services


Our services include:



  • Acute crisis stabilization

  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

  • Individual therapy

  • Group therapies, including recreation, art and pet therapy

  • Acute substance abuse detoxification

  • Treatment of acute psychiatric symptoms

  • Psychiatric consultations to patients on the medical/surgery floors


The unit was renovated in 2017 to offer patients more privacy, more space and enhanced care. The new unit includes:



  • Additional 4,400 square feet

  • Family visitation room

  • 24/7 security

  • Larger common area for patients

  • All private rooms

  • Increased privacy

  • Skylight atrium


Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)


Electroconvulsive therapy is recognized by the National Institute of Mental Health as a successful treatment option for severe depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. ECT can work more quickly than psychotropic medications or traditional psychotherapy when other treatments have been unsuccessful. ECT is a safe and effective treatment, and 80% to 85% of people have full remission of symptoms. ECT has minimal side effects.


ECT is an outpatient procedure. We have staff that is dedicated to assist you from triage to recovery.


The ECT team consists of an anesthesiologist, a board-certified psychiatrist and a registered nurse.



Contact us



UofL Hospital’s psychiatry staff members recognize the emotional as well as the physical symptoms associated with psychiatric disorders. If you need to speak with someone from Inpatient Psychiatry, please call 502-562-4680, or to reach Emergency Psychiatric Services, call 502-562-3120.


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