The child and adolescent psychiatrist in private practice: a primary care provider?

Abstract

This article describes the beginnings of outpatient child and adolescent psychiatric care in Austria and presents evaluation data from the first two child and adolescent psychiatric practices contracted by the statutory health insurance system. The figures are intended to provide a basis for further development of child and adolescent psychiatric service structures, covering both medical and therapeutic care. Using the multiaxial diagnoses of our patients, the article presents the coordinated, simultaneous multimodal approach of a child and adolescent psychiatrist working within the statutory health insurance network. Local providers involved in the treatment of children with complex health issues are described, and integrated care structures are considered. A “model region” is presented as an example, together with treatment collaborations with other care providers. The interface with pediatrics is emphasized, since this specialty provides the central medical primary care for our children and adolescents.