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Supervisors hear DPH, hospitals and first responders on strain at psychiatric emergency services
Summary
A July 28 committee hearing flagged continuing capacity, staffing and discharge challenges at Zuckerberg San Francisco General’s psychiatric emergency services (PES). DPH outlined diversion and linkage initiatives and a crisis‑diversion unit timeline; unions and clinicians warned of understaffing and long boarding times.
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on July 28 heard detailed testimony about persistent capacity and staffing strains at the psychiatric emergency services (PES) unit at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG).
Supervisor Rafael Mandelmann, who requested the hearing, said the city has long known PES is under pressure and asked DPH and partners to clarify staffing, diversion options and discharge practices. "Concerned about the state of PES is not ... new at the board of supervisors," Mandelmann said, opening the discussion.
DPH psychiatrist Mark Leary described PES as "the only dedicated psychiatric emergency service in the city and county of San Francisco," operating 24/7 with psychiatrists on duty and a multidisciplinary clinical team. Leary said DPH changed its COVID-era intake process to route psychiatric patients through the hospital emergency department (ED) for screening; about 82% of the time in 2022 PES accepted immediate transfers from the ED after medical clearance, while 18%…
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