Social work in a university hospital. Commitment to social work teaching in a psychiatric emergency division.

Abstract

WITHIN the past few years there has been increased attention given to the psychiatric emergency division of teaching hospitals. The advances in patient care and the increased interest in crisis management have stimulated all professions to review the services offered to patients who come to a psychiatric emergency division.^1-6Often in the past the psychiatric emergency has been a clearing house in which patients were hospitalized, referred to outpatient clinics, or other community resources. The resulting problem of waiting lists for therapy and the increasing demands for service have promoted the exploration of theoretical concepts for crisis management and short-term psychotherapy. More psychiatric emergency divisions are adding staff, such as psychiatric caseworkers and psychiatric nurses, with the realization that the patient is not only at odds with himself but with his environment. The areas of social work competence have been viewed