Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:238-241
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Development of a cost-efficient psychogeriatrics service
JJ Barsa, F Kass, CC Beels, B Gurland and E Charles
Various cost-efficient and space-efficient methods were used to expand
outpatient services to the elderly at a teaching hospital's psychiatry
clinic over a 2-year period. During this time the active treatment census
of elderly patients more than doubled, to 185 patients. Only one enrolled
patient required psychiatric hospitalization, and none required nursing
home placement in the 2 years. Except for the geriatrics service director,
no new paid staff and no extra space were required to form the service. The
authors review the methods that seemed most beneficial to the service.
