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Guidelines reduce time to consultation for a liaison psychiatry service in an Irish teaching hospital

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Abstract

Background

Timeliness of response from referral to consultation is necessary to provide best standards of care to inpatients in the general hospital setting.

Aims

To measure the length of time from referral to consultation in a liaison psychiatry service, and improve service delivery by introducing guidelines for time to consultation.

Methods

Time to consultation was measured on all patients presenting to a liaison psychiatry consultation service over an initial 6-month period, with subsequent repeat measurement following the introduction of guidelines.

Results

There were significant reductions for time to consultation in the service for the second cycle of the audit (χ2 = 43.84, P < 0.001), and targets based on international standards were achieved.

Conclusions

Introduction of guidelines for time to consultation, may improve response times, leading to improved quality of service for inpatient consultation services.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all staff in St. Vincent’s University Hospital who assisted in performing this audit including library staff, and Dr. Caroline Meagher.

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Correspondence to J. Lyne.

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Lyne, J., O’Donoghue, B., Bonnar, M. et al. Guidelines reduce time to consultation for a liaison psychiatry service in an Irish teaching hospital. Ir J Med Sci 181, 185–188 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-010-0511-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-010-0511-5

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