Award winning program prevents suicides

  • Published
  • By Linda Frost
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  The 59th Medical Wing leads the Department of Defense in patient safety for significantly reducing the chances for inpatient suicides among high risk people.

The 59th Mental Health Squadron's winning initiative, "Nurse/Mental Health Technician Change of Shift Safety Checks," led by Capt. Jose Sanchez, placed first in the category of improvement to team performance in the 2007 DoD Patient Safety Award competition.

Although safety policies are in place to prevent patients from harming themselves, a patient at-risk for suicide may find a way to harm themselves with an object within the hospital that can appear benign to the rest of the patient population, said hospital officials. 

The mental health team implemented a simple but meaningful schedule of "safety checks" to reduce the likelihood of patient self-harm or suicides.

Sentinel event statistics conclude that suicide ranks as the second leading cause of patient deaths in hospitals.

"The entire 59th Medical Wing staff is proud of these performance improvement initiatives that have eliminated our patients from being a part of that statistic," said Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis, the 59th Medical Wing commander. 

The objective of the patient safety initiative was to develop a structured safety check process using a team approach through enhanced communication practices, said Captain Sanchez, the inpatient mental health element leader.

The safety checks were conducted by the nurse and mental health technicians at shift change. Any hazards or findings were immediately corrected and/or communicated to the oncoming team.

"The most significant contribution was the collaboration of nurses and technicians to ensure a safer environment," said Captain Sanchez. "By working as a team, we have created a safer environment for patients to receive treatment and staff to provide care."

Before implementing the new process, several hazards were frequently found during the first safety check of the day, such as unlocked doors and excessive items in rooms.

Captain Sanchez said excessive items in a patient's room decreased by 85 percent after his staff removed objects that could be used as a suicide tool. Additionally, potential self-injurious objects were decreased by 92 percent, making the overall environment safer for both staff and patients.

"I am personally very proud of this team because that is what this award is really all about, the way this team treats every patient like they are the only one in the hospital," said Col. (Dr.) Charles Fisher, the 59th Medical Operations Group commander.

"I will stack Wilford Hall's care for our military family up against any hospital in the U.S. because I think it is truly among the best our nation has to offer. For this team to rise to the top of such an elite organization is truly special and for all of DoD is stellar,'' Colonel Fisher said. 

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