Managing violent patients.
There are many steps a health care facility can take in dealing with violent patients. This can be accomplished through a recognition of the causes of violent behavior. Unfortunately, each situation is different. While we can learn from previous experience, it is difficult to predict violent patient behavior. The steps that a hospital can take to deal with violence include intervention, restraint and seclusion, and proper training. This will increase quality of care and reduce liability. According to Steve Wilder, director of risk management at St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee, IL, "The issue is not to fight, but to control and modify aggressive behavior and defuse the situation" (Hospital Risk Management, 1993).
Melnick
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Presbyterian Homes, Evanston, IL, USA.
D000068:Accreditation; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007591:Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D012637:Security Measures / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*