Practice Patterns in Pediatric Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry: A National Survey

The purpose of this survey was to describe the current status of pediatric consultation–liaison (C–L) services in the United States. A total of 144 pediatric C–L programs were surveyed, with a response rate of 33%. Financial and staffing constraints were cited as common problems; 61% of programs reported an increase in consultation requests over the past 5 years, however, 30% of services reported a decrease in funding. Collection rates for professional billings average 30%; 57% of services reported an increase in clinical service demands at the expense of teaching and liaison activities. Discussion includes recommendations based on the results of the survey.