In a study of 252 consecutive, non-repeating psychiatric admissions at a community hospital, patients who were hospitalized for 6 days or less were identified. Using the Severity of Psychiatric Illness scale, these cases were predicted with both a sensitivity & specificity of about 75%. Short-stay patients were more acutely suicidal, had greater substance abuse complications, tended to resist treatment programs, & had lower levels of social support. Programming & policy issues are discussed.