Performance Health Partners
Given the unique challenges psychiatric care settings pose, such as managing patient elopement, workplace violence, and threats, ensuring robust patient and employee safety protocols is crucial. This blog post explores how incident tracking software serves as a pivotal tool in mitigating these risks, improving patient safety, and protecting organizational reputation.
Understanding Patient and Employee Safety Risks in Psychiatric Settings
Psychiatric care settings are prone to several safety events that can jeopardize both patient and staff well-being. Common incidents include:
Workplace Violence
This includes physical assaults, verbal threats, or aggressive behavior typically stemming from patient unpredictability or stressful interactions among staff and patients.
Workplace violence is notably higher in psychiatric settings than in other healthcare environments, as reported by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). According to APNA’s 2022 report on the psychiatric-mental health nursing workforce, more than one-third of psychiatric-mental health registered nurses report that they do not feel safe on the job.
Patient Elopement
Patient elopement is a persistent safety concern due to the high potential for patient harm. Patients may leave the care facility unsupervised, putting themselves at significant risk.
Factors contributing to patient elopement include confusion, dissatisfaction with treatment, or a compulsion to escape perceived threats. This issue is more frequently reported in psychiatric units or hospitals, particularly among patients with psychiatric conditions who may attempt to leave without proper discharge or medical approval.
Self-Harm & Suicide Attempts
Inpatient psychiatric suicides represent around 5% of all suicides, with a rate of 250 per 100,000 admissions—five times higher than in the general population and an overall suicide risk 50 times greater than the general population.
Patients in psychiatric settings may attempt self-harm or suicide, requiring consistent vigilance and timely intervention. Incident tracking software helps staff identify patterns and gaps in safety processes, allowing for more proactive measures to protect at-risk patients and improve overall safety protocols.
Medication Errors
Medication errors are common in psychiatric care settings. In a study examining 31 state psychiatric inpatients over two months, a review team identified 2,194 medication errors, with 58% of those errors carrying a high risk of harm.
Errors in dosing or administration can be particularly dangerous in psychiatric care, where many medications have potent effects and narrow therapeutic ranges.
Seclusion and Restraint Incidents
The use of seclusion or physical restraints, while sometimes necessary, needs strict oversight due to the potential for abuse and negative psychological impacts on patients. One study found that 25% to 47% of patients can experience post-traumatic stress disorder after such interventions.
Theft or Damage
Patients or staff may be involved in incidents of theft or damage to personal or facility property, which can lead to a sense of insecurity and distrust within the facility.
The Impact of Safety Events in Behavioral Health Settings
The impact of incidents in behavioral health settings like seclusion and restraint extends well beyond the immediate physical consequences. These incidents can have profound legal and reputational repercussions. Legally, healthcare facilities may face lawsuits that can result in settlements or penalties reaching into the millions of dollars.
For example, it is not uncommon for healthcare facilities to settle cases involving inappropriate use of restraint or seclusion for amounts exceeding $3 million, depending on the severity of the incident and the harm caused to the patient.
Moreover, these incidents can significantly tarnish an organization’s reputation, which is difficult to quantify but incredibly impactful. Reputational damage can lead to a decrease in patient admissions, which directly affects revenue.
A survey by the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development and the American Hospital Association showed that hospitals place a high value on reputation, with over 60% of surveyed healthcare leaders stating that reputation is critically important to fulfilling their organizations’ mission and financial stability.
Furthermore, these incidents erode community trust and patient confidence. Data suggests that 30% to 40% of potential patients may choose alternative facilities if they or their caregivers perceive that their primary choice does not meet safety standards. This shift can equate to a substantial financial impact, as the average cost of healthcare services per patient per day in psychiatric settings can range significantly, thus multiplying the financial losses over time.
These factors underscore the critical importance of robust safety protocols and transparent, responsive handling of any incidents to mitigate legal, financial, and reputational risks.
Challenges in Managing Psychiatric Care Safety Risks
Managing risks in psychiatric care presents unique challenges, particularly due to the unpredictable nature of many psychiatric conditions. Traditional methods, such as standardized risk assessments and observational protocols, can be disorganized and time consuming.
One key challenge that comes from traditional methods is the increased time it takes to respond to patient issues. When alerts are delayed or rely solely on manual communication, there’s a greater risk of escalation before appropriate interventions are in place. With generalized protocols, care teams can experience gaps in communication, which can lead to slower response times and potentially compromise patient and staff safety.
Another challenge is the lack of comprehensive data on recurring incidents or risk trends within a facility. Without this data, facilities miss opportunities to proactively address underlying causes or adjust care plans based on historical trends. Staff may find themselves addressing the same issues repeatedly without a clear strategy for long-term risk reduction.
Additionally, traditional methods place a heavy administrative burden on staff, who must manually document and report incidents, often after the fact. This not only consumes valuable time that could be spent on direct patient care but also increases the likelihood of incomplete or inconsistent reporting. Accurate, real-time data is critical for informed decision-making, and without it, psychiatric care providers are at a disadvantage when it comes to creating safer environments tailored to the unique needs of their patients.
Role of Incident Tracking Software
Incident tracking software offers a modern solution to these challenges. This technology supports real-time tracking and alerts, enabling immediate responses to potential incidents.
Features such as automated routing and real-time alerts allow for swift responses to incidents, while centralized communication tools enhance team coordination. Customizable reporting forms and advanced data analytics enable proactive management of high-risk patients by identifying patterns and implementing preventive measures.
This software can aid psychiatric hospitals in addressing multiple issues:
- Managing Workplace Violence: Incident reporting systems equipped with automated alerts and real-time data analytics can help identify trends and patterns of aggression, enabling staff to intervene proactively and reduce the likelihood of violent incidents. These systems facilitate thorough documentation and review of incidents, supporting the development of individualized care plans to mitigate future risks. For example, a study of 40 psychiatric units found that almost half (46%) of reported safety events were assaults, highlighting the prevalence of such incidents even when many go unreported. Implementing the right incident tracking software ensures staff can address these adverse events promptly and efficiently, improving overall safety and response measures.
- Reducing Medication Errors: Software-integrated checklists and alerts prompt staff to double-check medication doses, interactions, and patient allergies, reducing the likelihood of errors and adverse reactions. In fact, upon adopting an incident reporting system, one hospital reported a 51% decrease in medication errors.
- Supporting Behavioral Crisis Management: Incident reporting software can track and analyze patient behavior trends, helping staff identify patterns or early warning signs of escalating behaviors. This insight not only enables the team to implement proactive interventions and address potential triggers but also informs targeted staff training, equipping them with the skills and strategies needed to effectively de-escalate situations and ensure safety for all.
- Compliance with Healthcare Regulations: Incident tracking software helps ensure that all incidents are documented and managed according to legal requirements, helping facilities maintain accreditation and avoid penalties. Additionally, the data collected can be invaluable for quality improvement and risk management, offering insights that drive better service delivery and patient outcomes.
Implementing Incident Tracking Software
Choosing the right incident tracking software requires careful consideration of the organization’s specific needs. Key considerations include the scalability of the software, ease of integration with existing systems, and the level of support provided by the software vendor.
The implementation process involves several steps, starting with selecting a suitable platform and training staff thoroughly to ensure they are proficient in using the new system. It is also crucial to address potential challenges such as staff resistance, which can be mitigated through comprehensive training and demonstrating the benefits of the software.
Privacy concerns, particularly regarding patient data, must be carefully managed. Choosing software that is compliant with healthcare privacy regulations such as HIPAA in the United States is essential.
Final Thoughts
Incident tracking software plays a crucial role in enhancing safety within psychiatric care facilities by efficiently managing risks associated with patient and employee safety. As psychiatric facilities continue to face complex safety challenges, the adoption of advanced tracking technologies is not only beneficial but necessary.
Healthcare providers are encouraged to evaluate their current systems and consider integrating more sophisticated technologies to ensure a safer environment. Embracing such technologies not only promotes better healthcare outcomes but also supports a proactive culture of safety and continuous improvement in psychiatric care.
Ready to Take Action?
Discover how Performance Health Partners’ award-winning incident management system transforms patient and staff safety for behavioral health organizations. Experience an intuitive platform designed for easy use and minimal training. Ready to see it in action? Schedule your personalized demo here.