title: Constant observation in a medical-surgical setting. The role of consultation-liaison psychiatry.
abstract: Constant observation (CO) is commonly used in general hospital settings to protect patients who are at risk for harming themselves or others. The role of consultation-liaison psychiatry in the implementation of this procedure is often assumed, but has not been well studied. The authors report the findings of a 6-month study of the use of CO in a general hospital and discuss its implications for quality of care and, possibly, cost-effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia 19129, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lamdan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramchandani
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schindler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011570:Psychiatry; D011897:Random Allocation; D012017:Referral and Consultation