Safety and Security in Behavioral Health Arena
Maintanence of safety and security when caring for behavioral health patients is of paramount importance to ensure everyone remains safe. Use the resources in this section to evaluate and maintain a safe environment of care.
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Post-Incident Debriefing Form
Debriefing helps healthcare providers and the patient evaluate a crisis situation and plan to avoid future episodes throughout the patient’s stay. Interventions such as debriefing with patients post-violent episodes help to prevent reoccurring violence. This resource can serve as guide through the debriefing process.
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Use Security Officers to Monitor High-Risk Patients
Is your organization using security officers as sitters or one-on-one observers? If so, be sure your staff are appropriately trained and competent in the tasks being delegated to them. HC Pro’s Hospital Safety Center has released an article detailing the pitfalls of such assignments.
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Sample Sitter Guidelines
This document provides guidelines for sitters who observe patients identified as a danger to themselves and others. The form is an education tool for sitters to make them aware of expectations while they are sitting with the patient, including when to notify the nurse immediately. These guidelines are an important resource to help maintain a safe environment of care for patients.