title: Practice patterns in pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry: a national survey.
abstract: The purpose of this survey was to describe the current status of pediatric consultation-liaison (C-L) services in the United States. A total of 144 pediatric C-L programs were surveyed, with a response rate of 33%. Financial and staffing constraints were cited as common problems; 61% of programs reported an increase in consultation requests over the past 5 years, however, 30% of services reported a decrease in funding. Collection rates for professional billings average 30%; 57% of services reported an increase in clinical service demands at the expense of teaching and liaison activities. Discussion includes recommendations based on the results of the survey.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5719, USA. rjshaw@leland.stanford.edu
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wamboldt
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bursch
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stuber
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States