* EC: Dangerous Denizens: Preparing staff, law enforcement, and your hospital to manage forensic patients  (PDF/QV) [REF: AOM, SFT] EC News, October 2015, Vol 18, #10, Pg 1 JCe1510_B5

In June of 2010, Sentinel Event Alert Issue 45 (i.e., Preventing violence in the healthcare setting) warned that there was a significant increase in crime and acts of violent aggression in healthcare settings.  Some of this risk is directly related to the fact that hospitals are also increasingly called upon to provide care and treatment services to forensic/prisoner patients. As one might expect, there is the particular risk of danger and harm when such patients attempt to escape from the healthcare setting.  This was further confirmed by [Pearl] The 2011 Prisoner Escape Study. In that study, the most frequent locations for attempted escapes were identified as Clinical Treatment Areas (39.4%), Restrooms (29.3%) and areas immediately Outside the Hospital (17.2%).  The study also makes it clear that “escapes most frequently occurred when policies or procedures were not followed according to regulation and practice”.  Accordingly, this TJC article recommends clearly defined and standardized written policies.  It also recommends training for staff (e.g., PC.03.05.17) and external law enforcement (e.g., HR.01.04.01, EP 7) on effective management of forensic/prisoner patients, adequate staffing and ensuring a safe, appropriate area for there services (EC.02.01.01,EP 1).  The 2011 Study revealed additional factors contributing to escape attempts (e.g., communication delays, faulty equipment) and provides another dozen recommendations to reduce or eliminate escapes from healthcare facilities to include the use of [Pearl] the IAHSS Basic Guideline for Prisoner Patients.
Tip: At minimum, read the Conclusion and Recommendations found on pages 13 and 14 of The 2011 Prisoner Escape Study.
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