Administrative issues in inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient beds within the past 5 to 10 years. Child psychiatrists have not been trained to play a leadership role in the development and management of these units. Important issues facing the administrative child psychiatrist include the role of the medical director, the development of the clinical program, staffing of the inpatient unit, the design of the physical plant, financing of inpatient care, promotion of the services, and relationship with medical staff.