Ligature Risks and Preventing Inpatient Suicide: Compliance with the CMS and TJC Standards-Ligature & Suicide Risks 7-16-24 LMS Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Laura Dixon, a registered nurse and attorney with extensive experience in risk management and patient safety, discusses strategies for addressing risks associated with patient suicides in healthcare settings. She emphasizes that the United States has a high suicide rate among wealthy nations and highlights the need for adequate safety measures in hospitals. Laura describes various factors contributing to suicide risk in patients, including history of mental illness, serious physical ailments, legal or financial problems, and past experiences of violence or trauma.<br /><br />She underscores the importance of conducting thorough environmental risk assessments for potential ligature points—places where patients may attempt to hang or strangle themselves using fixed, sturdy objects. Laura explains that these assessments should be done regularly and consistently across all areas where high-risk patients may be present, not just in behavioral health units. Hospitals should use multidisciplinary teams for these assessments to ensure comprehensive safety evaluations. Proper training of all staff, including those providing non-clinical services, is also critical to recognizing and mitigating suicide risks.<br /><br />Laura discusses strategies such as one-to-one patient monitoring, removing unsafe items from patient rooms, and ensuring that all healthcare staff are competent in handling situations involving suicidal patients. She advises consulting available tools and guidelines for creating safer environments and suggests implementing evidence-based risk assessment tools customized for different healthcare settings and patient demographics.<br /><br />In conclusion, hospitals must follow stringent guidelines, conduct regular evaluations, and employ comprehensive training and mitigation strategies to ensure patient safety and minimize suicide risks. Laura provides valuable resources and guidelines from CMS and Joint Commission to aid hospitals in these efforts.

Keywords

Laura Dixon

registered nurse

attorney

risk management

patient safety

suicide prevention

healthcare settings

environmental risk assessments

ligature points

multidisciplinary teams

staff training

evidence-based tools

CMS guidelines