Specializes in vascular, med surg, home health , rehab,.
Hi,
out of my area and much confusion as to the rules. Elective surgical pt, last week an od, 2 in the last 3 weeks. PCP rights "pt at high suicide risk, needs a sitter". Hospital doesn't do sitters without one. MD won't sign. Psych comes in next day, (sitter was supplied), states pt is a risk, but still won't sign one. Later on in the day, UM are insisting. Psych agreed but wouldn't come back to sign the paperwor, faxed back a completed form. Now, is this legal or not? Conflicting info; in the end he got a sitter, was in no way trying to leave etc. But still would like to know the answer. Thanks in advance
annmariern
288 Posts
Hi,
out of my area and much confusion as to the rules. Elective surgical pt, last week an od, 2 in the last 3 weeks. PCP rights "pt at high suicide risk, needs a sitter". Hospital doesn't do sitters without one. MD won't sign. Psych comes in next day, (sitter was supplied), states pt is a risk, but still won't sign one. Later on in the day, UM are insisting. Psych agreed but wouldn't come back to sign the paperwor, faxed back a completed form. Now, is this legal or not? Conflicting info; in the end he got a sitter, was in no way trying to leave etc. But still would like to know the answer. Thanks in advance