The Role of the Mental Health Counselor in the Psychiatric Liaison Service of the General Hospital

Abstract

A substantial number of patients admitted to the medical and surgical services of the general hospital experience significant and obvious psychological difficulties associated with their acute illness. This is more likely to be recognized overtly on a medical than on a surgical service; on both, a significant number of patients need psychological services during their acute illness and convalescence. The mental health counselor serves an important function on the medical and surgical units: screening new admissions and identifying those patients in need of psychosocial services, providing supportive psychotherapy to selected patients and consulting with the nursing staff and house staff concerning day to day management. By participating in walking rounds with the medical staff, the counselor is also able to facilitate the request and use of formal psychiatric consultative services. As demonstrated through statistics and case reports, the mental health counselor, trained to operate in the general hospital setting, makes a valuable contribution in the care of medical and surgical patients in the general hospital.