Child and adolescent inpatient units in medical schools: staffing patterns, length of stay, and utilization rates.

This study examines staffing patterns, lengths of stay, and utilization rates in medical school-based psychiatric hospital treatment of children and adolescents. Results of surveys taken in 1984 and 1988 show that lengths of stay decreased during these four years, but utilization rates and number of beds tended to remain the same or increase. As economic pressures force hospitals to consider reducing staff, it is important to establish baseline data to evaluate and plan staffing patterns for child and adolescent inpatient units.