Psychiatric Intake Response Center
The Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC), located within Akron Children’s Emergency Department, is the evaluation center for psychiatric risk assessments. PIRC provides evaluations and referrals to mental health services. PIRC mental health therapists provide patients with a reliable, professional triage and assessment.
Services Provided
- 24/7 telephone triage to discuss concerns and recommendations are made
- Evaluation for children and adolescents in immediate crisis, which includes concerns for suicidal or homicidal thoughts and psychosis
- Professional assessment and recommendation of the next steps in treatment for the child or adolescent
- Referrals to mental health services in the community, including outpatient and intensive services
What to Expect
Mental health evaluations in the Emergency Department (ED) are completed by mental health therapists. Their primary focus is to assess patients with an immediate crisis and recommend an appropriate level of care. When arriving at the ED, families need to register for a PIRC assessment.
Evaluations are generally first come, first served, based on assessment room placement, which may result in a significant wait. However, patients will be monitored by the ED staff in a safe environment. PIRC staff does not provide medication changes or make medication adjustments.
Possible next steps for an Emergency Department psychiatric risk evaluation visit include:
- Discharge home with a safety plan
- Discharge home with a safety plan and a referral for ongoing Behavioral Health services
- Admission to a higher level of care
Contact Us
Anyone with mental health questions is encouraged to contact PIRC 330-543-7472. PIRC is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round.
PIRC will work collaboratively with the family to develop a plan that addresses the immediate psychiatric concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Partial Hospitalization Program offers intensive psychiatric services to teens ages 12 to 18 in an outpatient setting. We designed the program to keep teens in the community, out of psychiatric inpatient treatment, and/or transition them from our inpatient unit back home. Our goals are to help teens improve their functioning, develop healthy coping skills, and stabilize their mental status.
The Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC), located within Akron Children’s Hospital Emergency Department, is the evaluation center for psychiatric risk assessments. PIRC provides evaluations and referrals to mental health services. PIRC mental health therapists provide patients with a reliable, professional triage and assessment.
Services Provided
- 24/7 telephone triage to discuss concerns and recommendations are made
- Evaluation for children and adolescents in immediate crisis, which includes concerns for suicidal or homicidal thoughts and psychosis
- Professional assessment and recommendation of the next steps in treatment for the child or adolescent
- Referrals to mental health services in the community, including outpatient and intensive services
What to Expect
Mental health evaluations in the Emergency Department (ED) are completed by mental health therapists. Their primary focus is to assess patients with an immediate crisis and recommend an appropriate level of care. When arriving at the ED, families need to register for a PIRC assessment
Evaluations are generally first come, first served, based on assessment room placement, which may result in a significant wait. However, patients will be monitored by the ED staff in a safe environment. PIRC staff does not provide medication changes or make medication adjustments. Possible next steps for an Emergency Department psychiatric risk evaluation visit include:
- Discharge home with a safety plan
- Discharge home with a safety plan and a referral for ongoing Behavioral Health services
- Admission to a higher level of care
Anyone with mental health questions is encouraged to contact PIRC 330-543-7472. PIRC is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. PIRC will work collaboratively with the family to develop a plan that addresses the immediate psychiatric concern.
Contact Us
Anyone with mental health questions is encouraged to contact PIRC 330-543-7472. PIRC is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. PIRC will work collaboratively with the family to develop a plan that addresses the immediate psychiatric concern.
The Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC), located within Akron Children’s Emergency Department, is the evaluation center for psychiatric risk assessments. PIRC provides evaluations and referrals to mental health services. PIRC mental health therapists provide patients with a reliable, professional triage and assessment.
Services Provided
- 24/7 telephone triage to discuss concerns and recommendations are made
- Evaluation for children and adolescents in immediate crisis, which includes concerns for suicidal or homicidal thoughts and psychosis
- Professional assessment and recommendation of the next steps in treatment for the child or adolescent
- Referrals to mental health services in the community, including outpatient and intensive services
What to Expect
Mental health evaluations in the Emergency Department (ED) are completed by mental health therapists. Their primary focus is to assess patients with an immediate crisis and recommend an appropriate level of care. When arriving at the ED, families need to register for a PIRC assessment.
Evaluations are generally first come, first served, based on assessment room placement, which may result in a significant wait. However, patients will be monitored by the ED staff in a safe environment. PIRC staff does not provide medication changes or make medication adjustments.
Possible next steps for an Emergency Department psychiatric risk evaluation visit include:
- Discharge home with a safety plan
- Discharge home with a safety plan and a referral for ongoing Behavioral Health services
- Admission to a higher level of care
Suicide is a leading cause of death for ages 10-24. Suicides among young people continue to be a serious problem.
If you are in crisis, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or the Crisis Text Line by texting 4HOPE to 741741.
Akron Children’s offers a Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC) 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s a triage and referral service that links families to behavioral health services in Summit County and beyond. It is staffed by licensed social workers and professional clinical counselors who are trained to assess a child’s mental, emotional and behavioral healthcare needs. To contact PIRC, call 330-543-7472.
For more information on signs of suicide and depression and helpful resources, visit the suicide prevention page.
