Separation and loss issues arise frequently in pediatric hospital settings. Three forms of psychiatry/psychology liaison are presented which demonstrate: 1. case-centered collaboration to address child and family concerns about death; 2. team-centered activities which link family and staff roles in the course of terminal illness; and 3. the development of a program mechanism to meet the needs of staff “survivors” of recurrent childhood deaths. These examples illustrate the enrichment which pediatric psychiatry/psychology liaison programs offer when the conceptual model of liaison service and teaching operates flexibly on case, team, and program levels.
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