Provider News

Seattle Children's Psychiatric Urgent Care Now Open

October 1, 2024

Seattle Children’s Psychiatric Urgent Care Clinic opened this Monday, September 30, to provide same-day in-person and telemedicine mental and behavioral health assessment and intervention for Washington youth ages 4 through 17. Psychiatric Urgent Care is designed as an alternative treatment setting for youth who are experiencing a mental health crisis who need urgent (same day) intervention but do not need the services of an emergency department. It is the first pediatric-focused psychiatric urgent care clinic in Washington. 

Our team of licensed mental health therapists, family advocates/case managers, psychiatric advanced practice providers, and medical assistants provide crisis assessment, initial care recommendations and referrals to follow-up care in the community. Patients can be seen in person at Seattle Children's Magnuson Clinic or virtually from anywhere in Washington.

Who can access Psychiatric Urgent Care?

  • The clinic cares for all youth ages 4 through 17, including children and teens with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Due to licensing requirements, patients must be physically in Washington state at the time of each visit.

How can patients access Psychiatric Urgent Care?

  • Patients do not need a referral to be seen at Psychiatric Urgent Care.
  • Psychiatric Urgent Care is open 12 - 8 p.m. seven days a week, with closures on major holidays.
  • In-person same-day appointments can be scheduled online.
  • Virtual video visits can be accessed by joining a virtual line to be seen.
  • There is limited availability for walk-in appointments.

What services can be provided at Psychiatric Urgent Care?

  • Assessment: Focused crisis behavioral health assessments by a licensed mental health clinician including assessment of immediate safety concerns and additional behavioral health needs.
  • Care coordination support and referrals to next level of care: Our case manager will support families in navigating and identifying appropriate follow-up resources in the community.
  • Safety planning: Crisis prevention planning and home safety planning, including parent-focused behavioral management support, if indicated.
  • Psychiatric medicine consultation (if clinically appropriate): Our providers may prescribe medicines on a case-by-case basis or may make recommendations in consultation with community providers.

What can you expect and how can you help as a PCP to these patients?

  • If your patient is seen by Psychiatric Urgent Care and you are listed as their PCP, we will fax notes from your patients’ Psychiatric Urgent Care visits to you within 24 hours.
  • Please encourage your patients to schedule appointments or join the virtual line to be seen as there is limited availability for walk-in appointments.
  • Please note that the clinic cannot perform autism evaluations and is not a “fast track” to get an autism diagnosis or other ongoing outpatient psychiatric services.
  • If your clinic refers patients to other sites for urgent care needs, consider adding this option to your referral list.

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