Using electronic wristbands and a triage protocol to protect mental health patients in the emergency department.
In the emergency department of Mercy Hospital, concerns about possible elopement of mental health patients led to the use of the services of security officers, who were called for an average of 40 patient watches per week. Modified electronic wristbands, paired with a triage protocol, have significantly decreased the need for patient watches and decreased security costs.
Macy
Deborah
D
Mercy and Unity Hospitals, Coon Rapids, Minn., USA. DMacy@lifebridgehealth.org
Johnston
Michelle
M
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland; D010355:Patient Identification Systems / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods*