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A short-term psychiatric inpatient program for adolescents
I M Gold1, C Heller, B Ritorto
1Education Department, Charles River Hospital, Wellesley, Massachusetts 12181.
Hospital & Community Psychiatry
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Short-term adolescent psychiatric treatment programs can be effective. Implementing a crisis management approach reduced hospital stays by 30-50%, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Health
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Third-party payers are reducing funding for long-term adolescent hospitalizations.
- Inpatient adolescent programs require strategies for more rapid treatment.
- The STAT program was developed to address these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the viability of a short-term adolescent psychiatric treatment program.
- To assess the effectiveness of a crisis management-focused approach.
- To determine the impact on length of stay and patient stabilization.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of the Short-Term Adolescent Treatment (STAT) program in 1989.
- Shift from a treatment-based approach to crisis management, evaluation, stabilization, and outpatient transition.
- Development of specific admission exclusion criteria.
Main Results:
- Achieved a 30-50% reduction in length of stay, aiming for 2-3 weeks.
- Successfully transitioned patients to outpatient services.
- Addressed and alleviated staff concerns regarding the new model.
Conclusions:
- Short-term adolescent psychiatric treatment is viable with appropriate planning.
- Effective crisis management and clear exclusion criteria are crucial for success.
- Adequate outpatient services are essential for seamless patient transitions.