Developing a level III/IV medical/psychiatry unit. Establishing a basis, design of the unit, and physician responsibility.

This article is part of a series defining the administrative, logistical, and funding issues necessary for the establishment of a medical/psychiatry unit. It emphasizes the experience of individuals who have developed such units and is offered in an attempt to prevent duplication of costly mistakes. Administrative issues, factors affecting the physical design of the unit, requirements for medical coverage and medical and psychiatric programmatic support, and the ethical issues encountered in managing such a unit are discussed.