Clinical services within a general hospital department of psychiatry: conceptual issues and operational guidelines

This paper presents a checklist of conceptual issues and operational guidelines determining the organization of clinical services within a general hospital department of psychiatry. Issues emphasized include philosophy, target population, definition, structure, location, financing, and cost effectiveness of services, utilizing the experience of a specific department of psychiatry to illustrate their application. As the trend continues for mental health service delivery within a general hospital, recognition of these issues and their application is essential to effective service delivery.