It has been explained to me that in order to be admitted (in Texas) to a psych unit, you have to have been seen by a medical doctor within 3 days prior to admission (not sure how different states work).

Thus, my pdoc tries to have me come to his office before I head to the hospital. That way, I meet the 3-day rule and since he heads the psych unit at the hospital, he can just call in his orders and I can go directly to admission and bypass the ER.

But if it is after hours, I have to go through the ER which isn't horrible (this hospital is excellent with psych admissions), but it just takes forever.

On one occasion, he actually met me outside the psych unit doors for a few minutes and then went in to write his orders and I didn't have to go to the ER that way. He only did that the most recent admission, but he's a great pdoc and does all he can to make admissions as hassle-free as possible (which is probably an oxymoron - hassle-free admission. Yup, oxymoron).