Ombudsmen (Medical-Psychiatric) Rounds

Abstract

Ombudsmen rounds conducted jointly by a medical attending physician (ombudsman) and a psychiatrist bring the entire staff on each of the medical wards of Montefiore Hospital together weekly. An attempt is made to address both staff and patient needs on an inpatient medical service. Through group discussions and patient interviews, in which the patient has an opportunity to express his own feelings about his illness and his care, the staff becomes aware of the psychosocial issues that are universally evoked by illness and hospitalization. All staff members are also encouraged to relate their reactions to the patient and their interactions with each other. The ombudsmen-rounds concept maximizes the use of the internist and liaison psychiatrist, and makes psychosocial-medical teaching routine on the medical service in a contemporary teaching hospital where the practice of holistic medicine has been so difficult to implement.