@article{ref1,
title="Evaluating the prevalence of four recommended practices for suicide prevention following hospital discharge",
journal="Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety",
year="2024",
author="Chitavi, Salome O. and Patrianakos, Jamie and Williams, Scott C. and Schmaltz, Stephen P. and Ahmedani, Brian K. and Roaten, Kimberly and Boudreaux, Edwin D. and Brown, Gregory K.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) for suicide prevention (NPSG.15.01.01) requires that accredited hospitals maintain policies/procedures for follow-up care at discharge for patients identified as at risk for suicide. The proportion of hospitals meeting these requirements through use of recommended discharge practices is unknown. <br><br>METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study explored the prevalence of suicide prevention activities among Joint Commission-accredited hospitals. A questionnaire was sent to 1,148 accredited hospitals. The authors calculated the percentage of hospitals reporting implementation of four recommended discharge practices for suicide prevention. <br><br>RESULTS: Of 1,148 hospitals, 346 (30.1%) responded. The majority (n = 212 [61.3%]) of hospitals had implemented formal safety planning, but few of those (n = 41 [19.3%]) included all key components of safety planning. Approximately a third of hospitals provided a warm handoff to outpatient care (n = 128 [37.0%)] or made follow-up contact with patients (n = 105 [30.3%]), and approximately a quarter (n = 97 [28.0%]) developed a plan for lethal means safety. Very few (n = 14 [4.0%]) hospitals met full criteria for implementing recommended suicide prevention activities at time of discharge. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The study revealed a significant gap in implementation of recommended practices related to prevention of suicide postdischarge. Additional research is needed to identify factors contributing to this implementation gap.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1553-7250",
doi="10.1016/j.jcjq.2024.02.007",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2024.02.007"
}