Well, you hope for that. It doesn't always happen. If you go to a given hospital and they don't have a bed that is appropriate (or at all!) for you then they will send you elsewhere. This happens at a different rate different places. Once I was in the pysch er fo 36 hours because every psych bed in the area was full. I was waiting for a bed on mood disorders and that opened up before a bed on general psych that another woman was waiting for even though she'd been there even longer than I was (she was waiting for an ambulance to take her to another hospital when I went upstairs). They were looking to place her anywhere though while the goal for me was mood disorders which was the best match for me.

The best way to go in is usually to have your pdoc direct admit you. Not all pdocs are affiliated with a hospital but if they are that really makes a difference. In the 5 times I've been IP only once did I have to go in through the ER; the other times my pdoc arranged everything ahead of time and just told me when to show up.

It also depends on insurance. Private psych hospitals may be nicer (I have no idea) but Medicare limits how many days you can be in a private hospital while a regular hospital the days are not capped differently than Medicare in general). Insurance plays a role in whether they can admit you and then in how long you can stay. I've never had insurance send me home any sooner than I needed and several times I've gone home with a few more approved days ahead. But some insurance is stricter and will send people home faster or will not allow an admission unless there is clear danger to self or others.

It is a good idea to talk to your pdoc about their recommendations should an emergency occur and where they suggest you go/procedure you should follow (some pdocs can be contacted after hours while mine can't be very easily). Then you know what hospital they suggest and how they recommend proceeding with the psych ER/general ER (I would try for a psych ER personally as regular ERs can be unkind to psych issues sometimes. Having said that I had a very good experience when I was in the regular ER hallucinating from lithium toxicity but I was in a psych room that had everything removed and they were watching me). Just in case discussions are never bad.