Teamwork: A Multidisciplinary Pediatric-Liaison Service

A multidisciplinary liaison team operating within a pediatric teaching hospital is described, where consultants work as a team in close collaboration with each other and with the psychiatric nurse clinician and an occupational therapist.

Abstract

Psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers are often consulted about the same hospitalized patient. Since each may differ in their training, orientation and experience, the opinions expressed by them to the consultee may differ. The authors have described a multidisciplinary liaison team operating within a pediatric teaching hospital. The consultants work as a team in close collaboration with each other and with the psychiatric nurse clinician and an occupational therapist. The team approach has specific advantages. It allows for a concise and unified approach to the emotional and social needs of the patients. It presents a forum for informal consultations and interdisciplinary meetings. In addition, teaching opportunities are many as each discipline learns from the other.