Who staffs the unit?
A. Generally, psychiatric nurses, psychologists, social workers, and mental health assistants. A psychiatrist—full- or part-time—is always part of the treatment team. During your child’s stay, it is the hospital’s psychiatrist, rather than his private psychiatrist, who will determine what medication will be given. Although some parents find this worrisome, assessment by the hospital’s psychiatrist actually allows for a second opinion. It also allows for adjusting the child’s treatment with closer observation than would be possible if the child was an outpatient. Given the amount of information your private psychiatrist has about your youngster’s past treatment, however, an exchange of information between the two physicians can benefit your child.
