Remote assessment of the use of seclusion and restraint with paediatric psychiatric patients.
Agencies regulating US psychiatric inpatient facilities require face-to-face patient assessments by physicians within one hour of the use of seclusion or restraint. In a pilot study, we compared face-to-face and remote assessments using videoconferencing in relation to response times and physicians' ratings of aspects of seclusion or restraint events involving paediatric patients at a private psychiatric hospital. Fifteen paired face-to-face and remote assessments were compared. Remote assessments occurred more rapidly than face-to-face assessments and more took place while seclusion or restraint was still being used. There was little disagreement between the physicians' ratings in face-to-face and remote assessment conditions. Remote assessment may therefore be a rapid and reliable method for physicians to evaluate the use of seclusion and restraint.
Setterberg
Stephen R
SR
Prairie at St John's, Fargo, North Dakota 58103, USA. ssetterberg@prarie-stjohns.com
Busseri
Michael A
MA
Fleissner
Rachel M
RM
Kenney
Emmett M
EM
Flom
Jonathan A
JA
Fischer
Kenneth J
KJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D032921:Consensus; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States