title: Enhancing safety in behavioral emergency situations.
abstract: The implementation of a behavioral emergency response team (BERT) at a large midwestern health care organization is described. The BERT is a resource supporting nurses and other health care staff in managing behavioral emergencies. The Joint Commission (2010) reported an increasing rate of violence by patients toward health care staff, reinforcing a need for the BERT. No published reports were found in the literature of a BERT utilizing multidisciplinary mental health experts and security officers as responders. Development strategies, response data, and outcomes of this successful initiative are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Pestka
authors.forename: Denise A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hatteberg
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zwygart
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Erwin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Borgen
mesh_terms: D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D009732:Nursing Care; D016272:Occupational Health; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D014754:Violence; D017132:Workplace