Report of the ACLP Task Force on Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Pandemic, Nov. 19, 2020: Executive Summary

Shapiro, Peter A.; Brahmbhatt, Khyati; Caravella, Rachel; Erickson, Jennifer; Everly, George; Giles, Karen; Gopalan, Priya; Greenspan, Heather; Huijón, R. Michael; Key, R. Garrett; Kroll, David; Prince, Elizabeth; Rabinowitz, Terry; Saad-Pendergrass, Dahlia; Shalev, Daniel

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic forced consultation-liaison psychiatrists to adapt to unprecedented circumstances. The Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (ACLP) recognized the need and opportunity to assess its response and convened a task force in mid-2020 to review the lessons learned from the initial experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to summarize experience and make recommendations to the ACLP Board of Directors about potential ACLP directions related to current and future pandemic response. METHODS: In August-November 2020, the task force reviewed local experiences, ACLP list-serv contributions, and the published literature and generated recommendations for ACLP actions. RESULTS: Recommendations addressed telepsychiatry, hospital staff wellness, support for consultation-liaison psychiatrists, the need for additional research on psychiatric and neuropsychiatric aspects of COVID-19, and the ACLP's role in advocacy and dissemination of information. The task force report was submitted to the ACLP Board of Directors in November 2020. CONCLUSIONS: As the preeminent organization of consultation-liaison psychiatrists, the ACLP can implement actions related to pandemic awareness and preparedness for the benefit of consultation-liaison psychiatrists, other health care workers, patients, and the general population.