Emergency Department Management of the Suicidal Patient

Year: 2005 Source: The Pennsylvania Patient Reporting System Patient Safety Advisory, v.2, no.4, (December 2005), p.1-3 SIEC No: 20080026

PA-PSRS has received several reports of patient suicide attempts, failed searches of suicidal patientsÕ possessions, and elopements of suicidal patients from emergency departments (ED). Although suicides, suicide attempts, and patient self-harm should be reported as Infrastructure Failures, facilities have reported them and their near-miss counterparts to the Patient Safety Authority (PSA). Suicidal patients are evaluated and often held for observation in the ED.

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Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory~~~~~~