Professional Referrals

Professionals can refer a patient to our hospital through any of the following channels: 

• Phone: Call our admissions department directly. The line is answered 24/7 by an intake coordinator, not an automated menu. 

• Fax: Send clinical documentation by secure fax using Concord Fax or your organization’s preferred secure fax solution. 

• Direct admission: Coordinate a direct admission with our intake team, bypassing the emergency department when clinically appropriate. 

• Walk-in: Patients can also be brought to our hospital at 150 Moon Bay Parkway in St. Augustine, where an intake coordinator will complete a face-to-face assessment. 

Referrals are managed by our admissions department, which is staffed by trained intake coordinators and intake specialists who are available round-the-clock.  

When a referral comes in, an intake coordinator screens the clinical information against our admissions criteria, communicates the determination back to the referring professional, and, when the patient is appropriate for our services, coordinates the logistics of transfer and admission. 

Because our intake coordinators are the first clinical contact for every prospective patient, referring professionals can expect a clinically informed conversation rather than a transactional intake. Our team is trained to handle high-acuity calls from emergency department clinicians, mobile crisis teams, and outpatient providers. 

To expedite the screening and admissions process, please be prepared to share the following: 

• Patient demographic information, including full name, date of birth, and contact information 

• Reason for referral, including presenting symptoms and current level of acuity 

• Risk assessment, including any history or current presentation of suicidal ideation, self-injury, homicidal ideation, or psychosis 

• Primary psychiatric diagnosis and any known co-occurring conditions 

• Current medications and medication history 

• Relevant medical history, including preexisting medical conditions that may affect the plan of care 

• Substance use history, if applicable 

• Insurance information 

• Legal status and any existing involuntary commitment documentation, if applicable 

• Contact information for the referring professional and any other members of the patient’s care team 

If you have limited information at the time of referral, our intake coordinators can still begin the screening process and gather additional details as they become available. 

Coastal Pines Behavioral Health provides inpatient psychiatric care for adults age 18 and older who are experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Patients who are appropriate for referral typically present with symptoms of one or more of the following: 

• Major depressive disorder or other depressive disorders 

• Generalized anxiety disorder or other anxiety disorders 

• Posttraumatic stress disorder 

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder 

• Bipolar disorder 

• Psychosis 

• Schizophrenia 

• Schizoaffective disorder 

• Suicidal ideation or a recent suicide attempt 

• Self-injurious behavior 

• Acute decompensation in a previously stable psychiatric condition 

We accept patients who have co-occurring substance use disorders when a primary psychiatric diagnosis is present. Co-occurring substance use disorder treatment is integrated into the inpatient plan of care for these patients. 

Each referral is evaluated individually. If you are uncertain whether a patient meets our admissions criteria, please call our intake team to discuss the case. 

Our admissions department is staffed 24/7, and assessments can be completed at any time. When a referral is received and clinical information confirms that the patient meets criteria for inpatient care, our intake coordinators work to facilitate admission as quickly as the patient’s clinical needs and transport logistics allow. 

For patients transferring from a hospital emergency department, our team coordinates directly with ED clinicians to streamline the handoff, confirm bed availability, and minimize boarding time. 

Yes. When a patient has signed a release of information or otherwise consented to communication with the referring professional, our clinical team will share relevant updates throughout the patient’s stay. If the referring professional requests clinical information, our team will provide it within the scope of the patient’s authorization. 

This continuity matters. Patients move through inpatient care more effectively when their outpatient providers are part of the conversations, and discharge planning is stronger when the receiving provider is informed before the patient leaves our care. 

If you have a patient who you believe could benefit from the care we provide at Coastal Pines Behavioral Health in St. Augustine, Florida, or if you would like more information about the specific services we offer, please contact us today. We serve individuals and referring professionals throughout northeast Florida and southern Georgia.