Iowa Department of Human

Services
Terry E. Branstad
Governor

Kim Reynolds
Lt. Governor

Charles M. Palmer
Director

October 5, 2015
This is being sent to provide you an update on the inpatient psychiatric hospital bed
tracking system known as CareMatch. CareMatch has operated since August 1, 2015,
following a one-month testing period in July. This effort has been a high priority for the
Governor, the Legislature and the Department to more quickly match individuals needing
acute psychiatric inpatient services with the hospitals that can serve them and to better
understand what the statewide need is for inpatient psychiatric hospital beds.
Thank you to all of you who are updating the system at least daily so that it can provide
the most helpful information to your colleagues across the state that are working to
better assist Iowans who require inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. All but one hospital
is now reporting in the system and I look forward to 100 percent participation in the near
future.
The Department has been examining the system data, discussing its operation with users
and examining specific cases. As a result, we have identified two areas where we need
your assistance to improve this important effort.
1. Reporting Timely: Hospitals need to report bed availability at least daily, but
preferably at each shift change. In some cases, hospitals are not updating CareMatch
data for several days at a time, especially over the weekends. During that lapse in
reporting a hospital could have admitted or discharged several patients affecting the
hospitals actual bed availability. Failing to report timely diminishes the usefulness of
the system and leads to delayed treatment for patients.
2. Explaining Bed Availability: When a hospital is called for a possible admission to
an available bed, but the patients psychiatric acuity is beyond the hospitals
capability or there are other reasons the hospital cannot admit the patient, the
hospital should explain the reason the patient is not being considered for admission.
Better communicating the exact reason a patient cannot be accepted will provide
more accurate information about what is needed to better serve Iowans who require
inpatient psychiatric hospital treatment.
Working together on these items will help to better secure services for Iowans now and
provide more appropriate information for what might be needed in the future.
Again, thank you for all you have done and will do to support this effort. We will provide
you with updates about what we are learning and the areas we can work together to
improve. If you have questions, concerns or suggestions, please do not hesitate to
contact me or Karen Hyatt at 515-281-3128 or khyatt@dhs.state.ia.us
Sincerely,
Rick Shults,
1305 E. Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0114

Administrator
Mental Health and Disability Services
cc. Iowa Hospital Association