A survey of alcohol and drug services to general hospitals in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the structure and function of alcohol and drug services to general hospitals in Australia, and to examine the role psychiatry plays in those services.


METHODS
A survey of 15 large metropolitan hospitals was conducted.


RESULTS
Services differed considerably between hospitals, and psychiatric involvement was not prominent in most.


CONCLUSIONS
One of the challenges is to structure the administration of services so that they have a profile within the general hospital as well as close connection with community services. Psychiatrists must become more proactive in the area to reinforce what they have to offer these patients and to provide mentorship and training to psychiatric trainees in the field.
Yeatman
Richard
R
Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Vic., Australia. rick.yeatman@mh.org.au
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001315:Australia; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000592:standards; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009935:Organizational Affiliation; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010343:Patient Admission; D010819:Physician's Role; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000078329:Workforce
D008691:Methadone