eMed Logic assessments have been reviewed, summarized, and published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics in Review. The ACUTE practice manual and rating forms, with VISTA analysis, have been in world-wide publication for over 13 years. These cooperative assessments have been accepted for international presentation by peer-review scientific committees including the American
Association of Suicidology, Irish Association of Suicidology, Canadian Association of Suicidology, U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress, Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, National Association of School Psychologists, XIV European Symposium on Su***de and Suicidal Behavior, and the 7th World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and Prevention of Mental and Behavioral Disorders. eMed Logic© assessments follow the strategic directions, goals, and objectives of the 2012 National Strategy for Su***de Prevention by:
1. Increasing the awareness of warning signs for su***de and how to connect individuals in crisis with assistance and care.
2. Promote timely access to assessment, intervention and effective care for individuals with a heightened risk for su***de.
3. Encourage health care delivery systems to incorporate su***de prevention and appropriate response to su***de attempts as indicators of continuous quality improvement efforts.
4. Develop standardized protocols for use within emergency departments based on common clinical presentation to allow for more differentiated responses based on risk profiles and assessed clinical needs. eMed Logic© assessments are standardized in accordance with the NIMH “Issues to Consider in Intervention Research with Persons at High Risk for Suicidality, and the Expert and Consensus Statements of the Su***de Prevention Resource Center and the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention. eMed Logic© assessments are consistent with current advances in information technology and are creating new opportunities for research-based decision support tools in emergency psychiatry. These tools can systematically and reliably scale the domains of evidence widely used by school districts, mental health facilities, primary care and emergency physicians in psychiatric assessment. Benefits of ACUTE or ACTA/VISTA cooperative assessment include:
• Affords guidance in psychiatric emergencies
• Gender and cross culturally appropriate
• Aids consistent interdisciplinary communication
• Psychometrically sound
• Provides systematic process of evaluation
• Identifies modifiable and treatable risk factors
• Encourages interactive process between patient, family, and clinician
• Utilized as follow-up where serial assessment is important
• Guideline to “asymptomatic” patients who often deny ideation
• Quickly evaluates impact of neurocognitive factors on violent behavior
• “Do-able”, “must ask” questions completed in minutes
