EmPATH: Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment & Healing

EmPATH is not a walk-in unit. Access begins in the emergency department. After a medical evaluation in the ED, patients who need psychiatric support are transferred directly to the EmPATH unit — bypassing the standard ED wait for psychiatric care and moving into a calmer, more appropriate environment designed for behavioral health support.

Once in EmPATH, you will be evaluated by a psychiatric provider who will complete a full assessment and develop an individualized treatment plan. MUSC Health's behavioral health team — including psychiatrists, social workers, and crisis specialists — evaluates both the immediate crisis and longer-term care needs, so you receive the right level of support.

EmPATH is designed to feel different from a traditional emergency room. You will have the freedom to move around, participate in therapeutic activities, and rest in a comfortable, quieter setting. Care may include medication management, therapy, and crisis intervention — tailored to your specific needs. Stays are short-term, typically up to 72 hours, focused on stabilization rather than long-term treatment.

Before leaving EmPATH, the care team will reassess your condition and determine the most appropriate next step. Options include discharge with a follow-up care plan and outpatient behavioral health referral, or transfer to inpatient psychiatric services if a higher level of support is needed. You will leave with a clear plan for continued care.

EmPATH — Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment & Healing — is a specialized unit within MUSC Health's emergency departments designed to provide rapid psychiatric evaluation and short-term stabilization care for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis. MUSC Health operates EmPATH units at MUSC University Medical Center and MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina.

EmPATH serves people of all ages who come to a MUSC Health emergency department experiencing a mental health or behavioral health crisis — including anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, or psychosis. MUSC University Medical Center's EmPATH unit serves adults; MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital's EmPATH unit serves children and adolescents.

EmPATH is not a walk-in clinic. To access EmPATH, go to the nearest MUSC Health emergency department. After a medical evaluation in the ED, patients who need psychiatric support are transferred directly to the EmPATH unit. You do not need a referral or prior authorization — go to the ED and the care team will assess and direct you.

EmPATH is designed for short-term stabilization, with stays typically lasting up to 72 hours. The goal is to address the immediate behavioral health crisis, assess what level of follow-up care is needed, and connect the patient with the right next step — whether outpatient services or inpatient psychiatric care.

Yes. MUSC Health operates a pediatric EmPATH unit at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina. This unit serves children and adolescents experiencing a behavioral health crisis and is staffed by behavioral health specialists with pediatric expertise. Access is through the pediatric emergency department.

No. EmPATH is a short-term stabilization unit, not an inpatient psychiatric hospital. Stays are typically up to 72 hours and focused on immediate stabilization. Patients who need longer-term psychiatric care may be referred to outpatient behavioral health services or transferred to an inpatient facility as part of the discharge plan.

If possible, bring a photo ID, insurance card, a list of current medications and dosages, and an emergency contact. If you are in crisis, go immediately — do not delay care to gather documents. MUSC Health staff can assist with insurance and medication information at the time of your visit.