One priority at ADHS is helping patients on their path to Recovery at the State Hospital. Our Hospital team cares for people who have mental health issues, whether for civil reasons or committed through the criminal courts. We also oversee the Arizona Community Protection and Treatment Center.
Recent changes in security are making the Hospital a better place for patients, staff and the public. In the last four months – we’ve greatly reduced injuries to patients and staff – 23% for patient on patient assaults, 72% for patient on staff assaults; and we’ve reduced injuries by 83% for staff injuries from patient assaults, 26% for patient self injury. Why is this happening?
About a year ago, we began the transition to a new model with a cohesive team approach where direct care staff is fully engaging in all aspects of care. This “Culture of Care” creates a better therapeutic environment for patients and residents to live and improve safety for everyone. We’ve trained more than 700 staff on Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, an evidence-based, best practice for early intervention and de-escalation created by the Crisis Prevention Institute. That’s allowed us to focus our staffing on direct patient care and overall hospital safety. In the past few years, we’ve been able to maintain a good staff to patient/resident ratio by repurposing positions from administration and other supporting areas to areas that work directly with patients/residents on a daily basis.
The change has also helped us reduce seclusion and restraint, both major risk factors for psychiatric hospitals. We’ve been able (under the new system) to dramatically reduce the number of injuries by 13% from 2011 to 2012… this year we’ve only had five… representing a 75% drop from the previous two years for the same time frame. On the seclusion and restraint side, we’ve experienced an 80% reduction in just the last four months. These are great changes that we expect to continue.
Some other major changes to safety and security at the hospital in the last year include new scheduling to increase the number of staff available during high patient activity times, safer procedures when patients have to leave the hospital and revamping the way we review incidents with patients and staff. The staff and leadership at the hospital have made tremendous strides to make it a better and safer place to work, live and reach recovery. Nice job Team ASH!
