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Time-limited psychiatric hospitalization of children: a model and three-year outcome
Insights
This study evaluated a brief psychiatric hospitalization model for children, aiming for discharge within 28 days. The model successfully stabilized patients, with most referred to less intensive outpatient care.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Healthcare Management
- Pediatric Mental Health
Background:
- Growing emphasis on reducing hospital length of stay.
- Need for efficient models in pediatric psychiatric care.
- Challenges in providing timely and effective interventions for children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and implement a model for brief psychiatric hospitalization of children.
- To stabilize patients and facilitate timely discharge to community aftercare.
- To assess the effectiveness of a 28-day time-limited hospitalization model.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of a time-limited hospitalization model on an eight-bed children's unit.
- Utilizing a community-based case manager for each patient.
- Employing focused clinical interventions and strong parent involvement.
Main Results:
- The model generally met hospitalization goals.
- Of 212 admissions over three years, 63% were referred for less intensive outpatient care.
- 37% of patients required complex, multi-modal treatments upon discharge.
Conclusions:
- The time-limited hospitalization model is effective in stabilizing pediatric psychiatric patients.
- The model facilitates appropriate triage to community-based aftercare.
- Parent involvement and case management are key components for successful outcomes.
Abstract:
Current emphasis on reducing length of hospital stay has stimulated a review of the philosophical, clinical, and administrative approaches to brief psychiatric hospitalization of children. A model of time-limited hospitalization on an eight-bed children's unit was designed to stabilize the patients and triage them back to appropriate levels of community aftercare within 28 days. Clinical and administrative strategies used to facilitate this process included a community-based case manager for each patient, focused clinical intervention, and strong parent involvement. The treatment model was generally successful in meeting the goals of hospitalization. Of 212 admissions over three years, 37 percent of the patients at discharge continued to need complex, multi-modal treatments, and 63 percent were referred for less intensive outpatient care.
