The patient risk in psychiatric service at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research was to study the patients risk in psychiatric service at King Memorial Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.


METHODS
The annual risk incidents had been reviewed during 2002-2005. The risk incident had been divided in outpatient, inpatient, and electroconvulsive therapy treatment (ECT) service. The outpatient risk indicators were suicide, assault, mortality from emergency medication and severe side effect from emergency medication incidents. The inpatient risk indicators were suicide, assault, absconding, inappropriate sexual behavioral, side effect from emergency medication and severe trauma from restraint incidents. Mortality and complication from ECT incidents was observed.


RESULTS
There was no suicide or any other severe risk incidents in the outpatient service. The rate of inpatient suicide was 144 per 100,000 admissions. The other risks also demonstrated low incidents. There was no mortality in ECT and the only early complication was dental problems, which were found in 0.13%. Risk incidents were calculated and presented in percentage or per 100,000.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall risk of psychiatric service did not seem to be high even though psychiatric patients were at high risk and difficult to manage in nature. If the patients had appropriate management, the risks can be prevented. The trend of the risk was not high either. The present study supports the use of risk indicators, risk management plans, and risk surveillance in psychiatric service.
Laitanantpong
Decha
D
Department of Psychiatry, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012308:Risk Management; D017751:Safety Management; D013785:Thailand