CONSTANT OBSERVATION IN A MEDICAL-SURGICAL SETTING - THE ROLE OF CONSULTATION-LIAISON PSYCHIATRY

Constant observation (CO) is commonly used in gene, al hospital settin gs to protect patients who are at risk for harming themselves or other s. The role of consultation-liaison psychiatry in the implementation o f this procedure is often assumed, but has not been well studied. The authors report the findings of a 6-month study of the use of CO in a g eneral hospital and discuss its implications for quality of care and, possibly, cost-effectiveness.