Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced consultation-liaison psychiatrists to adapt to unprecedented circumstances. The Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (ACLP) recognized the need and opportunity to assess its response and convened a task force in mid-2020 to review the lessons learned from the initial experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: The aim of the study was to summarize experience and make recommendations to the ACLP Board of Directors about potential ACLP directions related to current and future pandemic response. Methods: In August–November 2020, the task force reviewed local experiences, ACLP list-serv contributions, and the published literature and generated recommendations for ACLP actions. Results: Recommendations addressed telepsychiatry, hospital staff wellness, support for consultation-liaison psychiatrists, the need for additional research on psychiatric and neuropsychiatric aspects of COVID-19, and the ACLP's role in advocacy and dissemination of information. The task force report was submitted to the ACLP Board of Directors in November 2020. Conclusions: As the preeminent organization of consultation-liaison psychiatrists, the ACLP can implement actions related to pandemic awareness and preparedness for the benefit of consultation-liaison psychiatrists, other health care workers, patients, and the general population.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 377-386 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry |
Volume | 62 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1 2021 |
Keywords
- ACLP
- COVID-19
- advocacy
- telepsychiatry
- wellness
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health