title: Evaluation of the timeliness of psychiatric consultations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergency department (ED) delays have multiple causes and create frustration for patients and staff alike.
  
  
  METHODS
  New adult psychiatric ED consultations were studied. Elapsed time between workflow stages was tested as a predictor of total time from triage to disposition. To expedite interviews a one-page form was provided for interested patients to complete before psychiatric evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total ED time best correlated with time from rooming to consultation request. Total time was not predicted by time to rooming, or from consultation request to arrival of the psychiatric team.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention appeared to significantly reduce interview times. Variation among physicians regarding protocol for psychiatric consultation requests underscored the importance of standardization in quality improvement efforts.
authors.affiliation: Dean Health Systems, Madison, WI, USA ; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Frederick Jp
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Langheim
authors.affiliation: Mendota Mental Health Institute, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heiligenstein
keywords: Consultation liaison psychiatry; Emergency medicine; Quality improvement