Do any regulations prohibit a seclusion room within a med/surg unit? Has anyone done this before?
FGI Section 2.2-2.2.4.6 Medical behavioral and mental health room points towards the behavioral and mental health risk assessment (1.2-4.6), which states “This patient environment shall be designed to protect the privacy, dignity, and health of patients and address the potential risks related to patient elopement and harm to self, others, and the care environment.”
This seems to validate that a seclusion room would be acceptable if determined necessary by the safety risk assessment.
Let me know what you think. Thanks in advance!
Brian
Hi Brian - Yes, for select med/surg BMH units do include seclusion rooms/ante/patient toilet rooms. For example, geriatric units are often classified as medical units due to the increased number of medical needs for this patient population. That unit often will prefer to include a seclusion suite not only for escalated patient to calm down within a safe setting but when the need arises in a med/surg room to move the patient to a more secure setting the seclusion room offers a location to safely position the patient in an environment where they are less likely to harm themselves while waiting to be transferred.
Hope that helps to answer your questions.
Take care.
Kim
Hi Brian. I have not placed one within a med/surg unit but have within an emergency department in NM. The state agreed that it was an appropriate solution to mitigated risks based on the SRA and functional program. The facility did have an inpatient BH unit and the seclusion room was part of an observation unit within the ED. Also, (FGI v 2018) 2.2-2.2.4.6(2) seems to specifically address the room being within the med/surg unit so it seems the SRA would offer the supportive arguments.
-Casey
Casey Carlton, AIA, NCARB
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