Abstract
Objective:
Consultation-liaison (CL) services are an integral part of many pediatric hospitals, yet limited research supports its use (Becker et al., 2020; Shaw et al., 2016). The current study examines the relationship between time to initial consult (TTIC) and hospitalization length.
Methods:
Data were obtained through a retrospective chart review of all youth who received an initial consult visit by a CL service from October 8, 2016 through October 7, 2017 (N = 302). Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between TTIC and hospitalization length.
Results:
There was a statistically significant large effect between TTIC and length of hospitalization (F(1, 300) = 369.50, p < .001, R2 = .55; η2 p = .55; Cohen et al., 2003). Furthermore, results suggest that more than half of the differences between patient hospitalization lengths can be explained by TTIC.
Conclusions:
These results reveal an association between TTIC and hospitalization length. The influence of mental health diagnosis and hospital visit reason are explored. Results suggest that medical providers should refer patients to CL services early within their hospital stay. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Implications for Impact Statement
The results of the current study indicate an association between the length of time from hospital admission to an initial consult visit with psychology (consultation-liaison or CL) staff in a pediatric hospital and overall hospitalization length. The results advocate for the use of CL services in the pediatric hospital setting and imply that medical providers should refer patients to CL services early within their hospital stay.
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