ERIC Number: EJ689001
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Dec-1
Pages: 5
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0363-0234
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Environmental Risk Factors in Hospital Suicide
Lieberman, Daniel Z.; Resnik, Harvey L.P.; Holder-Perkins, Vicenzio
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, v34 n4 p448-453 Dec 2004
Suicide of hospitalized patients is the most common sentinel event reviewed by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Shorter lengths of stay, sicker patients, and higher patient to staff ratios challenge the ability of the hospital to maintain safety. Risk factors associated with the physical environment of the inpatient psychiatric unit, cited as the most common root cause of inpatient suicide, may be neglected because evaluation of these factors is generally not included in medical education and training. Minimization of fixtures that can facilitate strangulation and other high risk aspects within the hospital environment is an important element in the prevention of suicide on psychiatric units.
Descriptors: Physical Environment, Patients, Risk, Medical Education, Hospitals, Suicide, Psychiatric Hospitals
Guilford Press, 72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012. Tel: 800-365-7006, ext. 3 (Toll Free); Tel: 212-431-9800, ext. 3; Fax: 212-966-6708; e-mail: news@guilford.com.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A