Simon Wile Symposium: Pivoting in the Pandemic for Pediatric Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Services

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The goal of this year's Simon Wile Symposium is to explore innovative strategies to adjust systems and services addressing pediatric mental health challenges in hospital settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatric mental health needs climbed significantly during the pandemic, and pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry services (PCLPS) have been at the forefront of addressing these needs in our community health systems. They have also been critical in supporting emotional health and well-being of fellow healthcare workers. National experts will share their innovative approaches to pivoting their PCLPS in their respective institutions and communities during the pandemic. Method(s) Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC) members were polled on preferred topics in collaborative care and pediatric consultation-liaison to be presented at the upcoming annual meeting. We sought those pursuing innovative strategies that also might be able to provide to a variety of regions and programs. The literature around the PCLPS provision during the pandemic was reviewed, resulting in the current Symposium submission. Result(s) We will share data and strategies to support emotional health and well-being of healthcare workers in a large hospital system in an urban area that was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will share data and lessons learned from one PCLPS in utilizing telehealth to support and augment pediatric mental health services in a large children's hospital. We will also review from a multisite survey of pediatric consultation-liaison and other data in comparison to one academic site, reviewing adaptations in services and utilization in children's hospitals across the country. We will present the recipient of the 2022 Simon Wile Award, who will present on a consultation-liaison or collaborative care topic. Conclusion(s) As child and adolescent psychiatrists continue to work to address the significantly increased child mental health needs in communities across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, programs that have found innovative strategies to address these needs in children's hospitals and large health systems can help us learn how to respond to similar public health challenges in the future. Our speakers will share how child and adolescent psychiatrists can be at the forefront of meeting public health challenges now and in the future. CON, DS, PYI Copyright © 2022