This month we turn our attention to Behavioral Health. A common problem within a healthcare environment is the event of Patient Elopement. Patients may elope for various reasons and need staff to anticipate and implement care actions to protect them. Staff can address this safety issue proactively by performing an Elopement Evaluation to determine if the patient is simply wandering or trying to exit. Once staff understand the patient’s behavior, they can implement appropriate treatment plans with steps for protection and reduce the risk of elopement and potential harm to the patient.

Set the stage for a Performance Improvement Opportunity as you consider process design to reduce the risk of elopement and maintain a robust Elopement Response Plan.