This article describes one hospital’s inpatient admission screening process. Through an interdisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, nursing care coordination, computer clinical analyst, staff education, & management, a prescreening tool/process was developed that identified medical patients with emotional or behavioural disorders & at risk for suicide. A 4-item suicide risk tool was piloted & revised. Results indicated nearly 7% of patients were able to receive needed psychiatric services that they may not have otherwise obtained. Limitations to the study are discussed. (7 refs.)
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