Citation

Eisenzimmer RK. J. Psychosoc. Nurs. Ment. Health Serv. 2012; 50(12): 30-35.

Affiliation

Head Nurse Emergency Department, Veterans Administration Central California Healthcare System, Fresno, CA 93703, USA. rkesam@sbcglobal.net

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Healio)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23457715

Abstract

Safety of suicidal veterans is a national issue. Veterans have a higher rate of depressive disorder than the general population, which puts them at higher risk for suicide. The staff in the emergency department (ED) of one Department of Veterans Affairs hospital developed and implemented an innovative process that increases the safety of suicidal veterans in the hospital setting. This process is called Code-51 and is similar to a military unit watch. This is one of the first unit watches implemented throughout an entire Veteran Affairs hospital, not only in the ED. The Code-51 process is a model for other EDs in both public and private sectors to help keep suicidal patients safe.

Language: en