Year: 2010 Source: The Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert, no.46, (November 17, 2010), p.1-5 SIEC No: 20101200

In 1998, The Joint Commission published a Sentinel Event Alert on preventing inpatient suicides. This Alert updates the prevention strategies presented in that Alert with a focus on general hospitals & the prevention of suicide in medical/surgical units & the emergency department. The goal of this publication is to assure that patients outside of psychiatric units are appropriately screened & cared for. This Alert presents strategies than can be used & suggested actions that can be taken by general hospitals to better help prepare their staffs & their facilities for suicidal patients & to care for both their physical & mental needs. (19 refs.)