Improving Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment in an Era of Managed Care

Specialized psychiatric units in general hospitals have become the primary source of acute psychiatric care in the United States. Given their importance, it is remarkable how little we really know about these units' treatment and rehabilitation practices. The rapid emergence of managed care makes it particularly important to examine these practices and to consider strategies to ensure high-quality care within the constraints managed care applies. This volume reports on treatment...
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Specialized psychiatric units in general hospitals have become the primary source of acute psychiatric care in the United States. Given their importance, it is remarkable how little we really know about these units' treatment and rehabilitation practices. The rapid emergence of managed care makes it particularly important to examine these practices and to consider strategies to ensure high-quality care within the constraints managed care applies. This volume reports on treatment practices in specialized psychiatric units in New York State, differentiating between units with a long-term treatment orientation and those with an acute care perspective. The purpose of this sourcebook is to bring to mental health care managers and professionals a better appreciation of the diversity of practice and of strategies to improve it in the face of growing financial and clinical pressures. The challenge is to develop a balanced system of care in which the hospital, outpatient services, and needed social supports are integrated in a seamless way. This is the 73rd issue of the journal New Directions for Mental Health Services.