Hospital psychiatric interventions and its positive effect on disposition of non-acute, long-term-care waitlisted...

Psychiatric interventions in hospital patients have been shown effective in reducing length of stay and costs. Its effectiveness and benefits in regard to the growing problem of disposition of non-acute, long-term-care, waitlisted hospital patients have not been characterized or described in the literature. The authors present several cases of waitlisted patients that demonstrate direct and indirect psychiatric interventions can play a significant role overcoming barriers and contributing to timely and appropriate disposition of these patients. Future prospective studies should be done to expand upon these findings to prepare for the aging of the population in Hawai'i.