[Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Acceptance of a New Ambulatory Care System]

To evaluate a new ambulatory care system in outpatient child and adolescent psychiatry based on the web-based Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA).

We analyzed patient paths (flows), acceptance, satisfaction, and staff costs in the newly implemented care model.

The new model was very well accepted by the respondents (DAWBA response rate: 92 %). A third of the patients registered with the psychiatric service in 2012 were not in need of psychiatric treatment and were therefore referred to other psycho-social services. The additional staff costs of $ 200 per case might be low compared to the saved costs due to the avoidance of inappropriate medical care.

The new ambulatory care model proved to be effective, efficient and broadly accepted when resources are strictly limited.