title: Improving state-funded child psychiatric care: reducing protracted hospitalizations through changes in treatment planning.
abstract: In late 1986, Millcreek Psychiatric Center for Children changed several of its treatment practices in an attempt to decrease needlessly prolonged hospitalizations. The changes included initiating discharge planning shortly after admission, increasing contacts with community and judicial agencies, improving family therapy services, and educating the community about appropriate use of hospital treatments. The fraction of children hospitalized more than 180 days decreased significantly, as did the average length of stay. Mental health professionals should keep community agencies informed about the nature and limitations of inpatient treatment and about children's needs for adequate after-care services.
authors.affiliation: Millcreek Psychiatric Center for Children, Cincinnati, OH.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mossman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Macaulay
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D009820:Ohio; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000639:trends*; D011203:Poverty; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012948:Social Work Department, Hospital