General hospital psychiatry from the perspective of medical economics

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of consultation-l iaison (C-L) psychiatry from the perspective of medical economics, by compa ring a part-time and full-time psychiatric department. One full-time (5 day s per week) psychiatrist began work at a general hospital (GH-A), and one p art-time (once per week) psychiatrist had been working at another general h ospital (GH-B). Both general hospitals are teaching hospitals of the same s ize. The number of patients and the medical reimbursements were investigate d each month and compared. This study demonstrated that the establishment o f C-L psychiatry was economically profitable in contrast with what was the common belief among general hospital administrators. Also, the differences in the total number of patients (GH-A:GH-B = 500:35-50 patients/month) and the total reimbursement (GH-A:GH-B = 3 million:2-300000 yen/month) was not explained by the number of working days (GH-A:GH-B = 5:1 day/week). The ful l-time model of C-L psychiatry has also indirect effects (i.e. educational and relieving effects) on the hospital staff. Promoting the establishment o f C-L psychiatry requires many evidence-based studies that demonstrate the necessity for C-L psychiatry and can directly persuade hospital directors.