Psychiatric News Special Report: Barriers to Rehabilitation After Discharge

On this episode of Psychiatric News Special Report, host Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza is joined by Dr. James Bourgeois, Vice Chair of Hospital Psychiatry Services at UC Davis and Psychiatric News' consultation liaison section editor, for a practical conversation on what happens after medical discharge for patients living with serious mental illness. Using the February Special Report on post discharge rehabilitation barriers as a springboard, they break down why "medically ready" can still mean "psychiatrically at risk," and how mobility limits, nursing capacity, and safety rules can block transfers to inpatient psychiatry. The discussion highlights proactive consultation models, stronger handoffs to outpatient care, and how primary care based psychiatric support can reduce repeat hospital use while keeping patients safer in the community. Read this special report here: https://www.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2026.02.2.4 PsychNews Special Report is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn