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A Comparative Study

Marcus R. Stuen, MD; Kristen B. Solberg, EdD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1970;22(4):351-355.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

IN studying the rising admission and discharge rate at the Veterans Administration Hospital, American Lake, it became apparent that a significant number of patients were leaving the hospital against medical advice. Searching for literature on this subject was not particularly fruitful, although several studies were found.^1-3

Patients who enter the hospital for psychiatric treatment and shortly thereafter leave against medical advice present a considerable problem. This group constituted 14% of discharges at American Lake Veterans Hospital during 1965 and 1966 and has averaged 10% (9.35%) over the past eight years. The actual cost in money and in staff effort to admit a patient is significant. Time factors involved in the admission procedures were analyzed and reported by the California Commission on Staffing Standards for State Mental Hospitals.⁴ We took the standard time allowances for the intake procedures from the California . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
American Lake, Tacoma, Wash

From the Veterans Administration Hospital, American Lake, Tacoma, Wash.

Footnotes
Submitted for publication July 28, 1969.

An earlier version of this paper was read before the Ninth Annual Research Meeting, Department of Institutions, State of Washington, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Feb 7, 1969.

Reprint requests to Research Service, Veterans Administration Hospital, American Lake, Tacoma, Wash 98593 (Dr. Stuen).

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