Testing asymptomatic mental health patients for COVID-19 overburdens hospital resources

Inpatient mental health facilities required COVID-19 testing for all patients, including asymptomatic ones, due to perceived high susceptibility.

This study examined how the policy affected patient care and hospital resources.

A retrospective review was conducted on asymptomatic psychiatric patients admitted to the psychiatric emergency room between July and December 2020, analyzing COVID-19 test results, conversion rate, length of stay (LOS), and demographic variables.

Among asymptomatic patients (N = 2020), 2.5% (n = 51) tested positive, with 7.8% (n = 4) experiencing mild symptoms. The average hospital length of stay was 8 days, with 90.2% discharged home and 9.8% transferred to outside mental health inpatient facilities. Chi-square testing found no significant differences in age, gender, or housing status between positive and negative patients (p’s > 0.05), except for a significant difference in positivity rates among Hispanic patients (p < 0.05).

The positivity rate among asymptomatic mental health patients was low. The policy of universal testing increased hospital spending and resource utilization, including unnecessary testing and hospital admissions, leading to longer stays. These findings underscore the need to assess the efficacy of COVID-19 testing policies and reconsider resource allocation based on evidence.