Seeking Elopement Policy

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

Does anyone have an elopement policy they can share, we have had a recent situation which revealed to us that we don't have a clear cut process to follow if an elopement occurs, we would like to create one for both child/adolescent and adult and for both involuntary and voluntary populations. Any assistance would be appreciated.

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

if an inv. elopes, we go get him, call police....

if a vol. elopes, we try to talk him back in...if not, let him go....

that is how we handle elopements....I have only had 3 in last 2 yrs.

as far as seeing a policy, I haven't seen one....

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Our facility has an elopement policy. Topics covered are procedure for when a patient elopes (who tries to find the pt and get them to return), who you notify (MD, police, nearby schools, family member, facility administration), documentation of elopement and actions taken, documention needed while pt continues to be absent, documentation of pt return to facility, and when decision is made to d/c pt who has not returned.

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Am I able to have a copy of this?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Sorry, no.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

My facility has had two elopements in two months >_<. the last one being yesterday. patient yesterday came back all smiles was fun :trout: our main issue is that staff members and case managers are walking out of unit day long.>

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

one of our nurses went through our locked unit and a pt. followed her out without her knowing it.....looked and finally found him outside wandering smoking a cig....Big sign on the door....DO NOT USE- ELOPEMENT RISK, oh well.....at least we found him quickly !!!

she said, " I had a feeling someone was behind me"....OH

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