Policy on patient leaving AMA with IV in place

TigerGalLE, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2008

Oh the IV must come out first.

trainer2070 · Jun 5, 2008

I need to clarify, the patient left with IV still in place. I've always been under the impression that were still liable for them and PD is notified. But someone higher up isn't concerned with them leaving with the IV still in place.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2008

Ya that and their catheter as well!!! lol...like who would want to leave those in, as far as I know you cant shoot drugs up that route...

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2008

Well what did they do, sneak out? I have had patients leave AMA and 1st they get dressed- pack their bag- call for a ride-gripe at us, then gripe some more. Then leave. But yes the IV must come out

trainer2070 · Jun 5, 2008

I know but whats your policy if they are gone and still have the IV in place?

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2008

Sorry Trainer, we dont have one that I know of. I dont know if that has ever happened before.

If the person snuck out and was of able and right mind then I dont see how the hosp could get in trouble. Now if the person was a Behav Health pt and had known pysch issues or a known drug abuser, maybe someone in for detox, then I guess that would be different. As those folks we need to do 15 min checks on.

So what is the story--how did he get out AMA with out someone removing the IV? My only assumption is that he just left with out telling anyone?

USAstudent · Jun 5, 2008

I had a patient leave her third floor room with IV and chest tube in place (she clamped it off and unhooked it from pluravac first)-she was at the end of the hall and left during evening shift change. Police were called and found her drinking ETOH a couple blocks away with a homeless guy. She also had hx of iv drug use. Definitely call police.

I've also accidentally discharged someone from ED with IV in place-had to call him at home and get him to come back up and have it removed. Luckily, his family and him were good natured about it. Charge nurse said I would have to call police if we hadn't been able to get in touch with him.

michael79 · Jun 5, 2008

In the ED this happens all the time. We call the phone number on the chart and, if they answer, tell them they have to come back and let us remove it and document that it was removed. If we can't get a hold of them we contact PD and they deal with it.

RN1989 · Jun 5, 2008

Most PD's don't do anything when you call and I have had one tell me not to call again for something so stupid after I nicely explained that it was the hospital's policy that I call. They have too much to worry about. Frankly, this is a waste of my tax dollars to have some cop try to find the person anyway. Best you can do is document that you made attempts to contact everyone in the chart without success. I have yet to have some idiot come back to the hospital because they had an infected IV site and were going to sue. They either take it out themselves or it falls out - end of story.

athena55, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2008

Hello All

I worked at a VA Medical Center in NYC and our policy was....If the patient left AMA and the IV was not taken out before hand, a nurse from the unit would call the patient and GO TO THE PATIENT's HOUSE TO D/C or REMOVE SAID IV/HEP LOCK. Didn't happen often, but it happens

athena

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2008

Usually we hav plenty of time from the time they start yacking about leaving AMA to the time the actually go to take it out. If they refuse to have it taken out im sure we would call security and get it out first.

I have had a patient discharge and we forgot to take it out though. In that instance i called them at home and i went to their house after i left work and took it out. No reason for them to come all the way back since it was our fault in the first place. They were fine with me making a short visit on my way home to do it.