5 years of EmPATH: Reimagining mental health care with compassion

In a mental health crisis, everything can feel unsettled. But inside EmPATH, healing can begin in simple ways, like sitting down at a puzzle, reading a book, or talking with a therapist who meets patients with calm, connection, and care. Over the past five years, that approach has helped more than 10,000 patients find stability and move forward. 

In 2021, M Health Fairview pioneered a new model of emergency mental health care in Minnesota called Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing (EmPATH)—and we’re continuing to lead and evolve it. 

Madeline Mulcahy, MSSW, LICSW, joined our EmPATH team at M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital in December to provide individual and group therapy, strengthening the team’s ability to help people transition from crisis toward clarity. 

“Every person who comes into EmPATH is met with support,” Mulcahy said. “Our team helps them move from that initial moment of uncertainty to a place where they feel safe, understood, and ready for what comes next.” 

A different kind of healing environment 

Unlike traditional emergency mental health care, EmPATH  creates a calming, choice-based environment where healing can begin the moment someone arrives. The unit is intentionally designed to feel less like a hospital and more like a restorative community space. Recliners, games, soothing music, sensory rooms, weighted blankets, and freedom to move make it a place where people can choose how they want to engage. 

No phones or guests are allowed—an intentional decision to create a distraction-free space focused solely on well‑being. The average stay is 26 to 33 hours, which gives people time to feel calmer and make a plan for continued care. 

And the results speak for themselves.  

• Hospitalizations reduced from 30-40% to 6%, as care teams stabilize patients and help avoid unnecessary inpatient stays. 
• Repeat emergency visits for mental health crises after leaving EmPATH fell to 17% in 2025. 
• 95% of patients reported a positive experience and would recommend EmPATH. 

From crisis to connection and healing 

Mulcahy meets each person where they are and encourages participation in group therapy, helping patients feel comfortable connecting with others who share similar experiences. That connection often leads to stronger treatment engagement, greater confidence in using coping skills, and increased openness to continuing care after leaving EmPATH. 

“My goal is to help people find their words, calm down, and get their needs met so they can engage in the rest of their treatment planning,” Mulcahy said. 

Before leaving EmPATH, the care team helps patients design a seamless plan to continued care, whether that’s outpatient therapy, day treatment programs, or other community-based support. 

An investment in people 

At the heart of this innovative approach to mental health care is a collaborative team of nurses, therapists, assessors, and psychiatrists working together to care for those who need it most. This coordinated approach extends beyond the unit, with close collaboration between EmPATH and the emergency department at Southdale Hospital to ensure every patient receives the right care at the right time. 

This model reflects our broader commitment to expanding access to whole-person, compassionate care. As the largest provider of mental health care in the Upper Midwest, M Health Fairview continues to advance solutions, including same-day access to behavioral health services, to better meet the needs of our communities. 

That commitment is taking shape across our system.  Over the past 18 months, we’ve expanded access by opening new mental health programs for adolescents and adults in six locations, with two additional In Edina, this growth has strengthened a comprehensive hub for mental health services.  Two new adult programs opened in 2024, adding to the already robust set of treatment options. After receiving care at EmPATH, patients can be admitted directly to the Partial Hospitalization Program or Intensive Outpatient Program, or substance use treatment, reducing gaps in care between emergency and follow-up care. 

“Expanding our mental health services isn’t just an investment in care—it’s an investment in people,” said Chris Beamish, service line executive for mental health and addiction care at M Health Fairview. “When we remove barriers and offer timely, compassionate support, we give individuals the stability they need to heal and move forward. Our commitment is to ensure that every person who reaches out in a moment of crisis finds a path toward hope, connection, and continued well‑being.”