Development of a virtual consultation-Liaison psychiatry service: A multifaceted transformation

Rachel A. Caravella*, Allison B. Deutch, Paraskevi Noulas, Patrick Ying, K. Ron Li Liaw, Jeanne Greenblatt, Kelsey Collins, H. K. Eastburn, Emily Fries, Shabana Khan, Adam Kozikowski, S. Alex Sidelnik, Michael Yee, David Ginsberg

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, our NYU Langone Health Tisch/Kimmel/ Orthopedic Hospital ConsultationLiaison (CL) Psychiatry service underwent a multifaceted transformation to become a primarily Virtual CL Psychiatry service. We aimed to provide the hospital system with comprehensive psychiatric consultation for all patients, regardless of isolation status, while preserving personal protective equipment and avoiding unnecessary exposure to COVID-19 for our team members. In this article, we discuss harnessing technology for video consultations and transforming the multiple facets of an academic CL Psychiatry Service to become a comprehensive, functioning virtual consultation team during the COVID-19 pandemic. We review the history, best practices, legal, and regulatory considerations of using telepsychiatry for psychiatric consultations, challenges to implementation across multiple clinical sites, and expansion of the liaison role to include support of frontline colleagues. Finally, we provide the physician, trainee, and psychiatric nurse perspective as it relates to this transition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)279-287
Number of pages9
JournalPsychiatric Annals
Volume50
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Funding

The authors thank the following people from NYU Langone Health who made contributions to this article: Stephanie Asonye, MD; Gary Carlisle, MSN, PMHNP-BC; Calvin Cruz, MD; Josie Gramarosso, MS, RN, HNB-BC, PMHNP Nathan Jones, RN-BC; Amanda Shirley, BA, BSN, RN-BC; Amy Tenenouser, BA, BFA, BSN, RN-BC; and Patricia Whyte, MSN, BSN, RN. The authors also thank Celena Chong LCSW, CASAC, Stacey Flatow, LCSW, CASAC; Chief Medical Information Officer Paul Testa, MD, Eduardo Iturrate, MD, and NYU Langone Health IT Department; members and leadership of the Department of Psychiatry, including the Department Chair Charles Marmar, MD, the Vice Chair for Education Lenard A. Adler MD; NYU Langone Health Nursing leadership; and all the frontline health care workers who continue to take care of patients every day.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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