Sometimes providers find themselves in unpredictable and dangerous situations when escalated circumstances arise. When that happens, medical care must give way to the safe crisis prevention and management of an individual who might exhibit behavioral changes.
Like other medical facilities, Eastern Plumas Health Care has seen its share of behavioral situations, and that’s what prompted Joanna Garneau, EPHC Program Manager, to help find a solution.
“In any given emergency room, providers can attest to how quicky a situation can become escalated when patients or their family members are filled with emotions in circumstances outside their control,” said Garneau.
To better prepare staff for these situations and other incidents that can occur outside the emergency room, Garneau secured a grant to offset training costs, coordinated a program through Quality Behavior Solutions (QBS) and created a team who attended the learning sessionsfor incident prevention and management training.
Known for their comprehensive programs, QBS has helped healthcare professionals support individuals with behavioral challenges in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, veterans’ homes and outpatient settings across the U.S. and Canada. For Eastern Plumas Health Care, QBS specifically created a Safety-Care core curriculum that was suited for their needs.
Participants who implement this training experience an 80% reduction in patient injury, 50% reduction in staff injury and overall reduction in restraint and seclusion hours.
“The program stats speak for themselves,” said Garneau. She further reiterates, “The importance in this training is to help staff provide interventions should a dangerous threat occur.”
EPHC has taken a proactive step by implementing this training. Keeping both providers and patients safe from behavioral-related harmelevates the standard of care for healthcare in our community.
For more information about this program contact, Joanna Garneau at 530-832-6632 and for information about EPHC visit EPHC.org or call 530-832-6500.
Information was provided by Eastern Plumas Healthcare
