Organization and development of pediatric medical-psychiatric units. Part I: Administrative, financial, and political issues.

The growing literature regarding the development of medical-psychiatric units to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of patients with combined medical and psychiatric disorders is primarily limited to adult populations. Almost no published information is available concerning combined pediatric medical-psychiatric units. This article, the first in a two-part series, outlines the organization and development of a child and adolescent medical-psychiatric unit within a pediatric hospital. Various academic, administrative, political, financial, and clinical issues that must be considered during the developmental process are delineated and discussed. The second part of the series will address clinical management issues.