BURAIDAH C ENTRAL H OSPITAL

Department: NURSING SERVICE Policy Index: PP-BCH-NR/GNR-024-IPP-E Title: ABSCONDED PATIENT Applies to: All Nursing Staff Effective Date : 01-01-1432 H New

B. C. H.

IPP

Replace Number : XXXXX Number of Pages: 2 Review Due : 01-12-1433 H

1. PURPOSE :
1.1 To ensure the safety and security of all patients within its care. 1.2 To protect hospital staff from possible medico-legal consequences.

2. DEFINITION :
2.1 Absconding - refers to the departure of a patient from the ward without staff sanction.

3. POLICY :
3.1 Nursing Staff shall be responsible to report immediately missing patient. Elderly patients, psychiatric clients, confused head injury patient shall be monitored Children without watcher must be monitored frequently. All patients shall be accounted for, at the start and end of the shift. A search shall be made if a patient is not present on his / her bed.

3.2
closely.

3.3
3.4 3.5

3.6 Incident report must be written by the allocated nurse and submit to Nursing Office within their shift.

4. PROCEDURES :
4.1 Check the immediate vicinity to ensure
Prepared by: Magdalena Venzuela Nurse Supervisor Approved by: Ahmad Abdulla Al-Omar Hospital Director

RATIONALE : 4.1 Attempt should be made by the nursing Approval

Page Number: 1/2 Stamp

Form Index: BCH-QM-009-E

that patient is not within area. 4.2 Immediately report to Charge Nurse / Head Nurse. 4.3 Request assistance of Hospital Security or orderlies to conduct a search of grounds if necessary.

staff to ensure patient safety. 4.2 To establish the need to report the case to responsible authorities of the hospital. 4.3 For proper evaluation and action.

4.4 Notify the Social Worker and / or Manager on Duty and Nurse Supervisor. 4.5 Document in the patients medical record: 4.5.1 Date and time patient left the hospital. 4.5.2 The time when patient last seen. 4.5.3 The condition of the patient when last seen. 4.6 Complete the Incident Report and submit to Nurse Supervisor within their shift. 4.5 For legal aspect and communication with other Health Team members.

4.6 For proper evaluation and action.

5. FORMS AND EQUIPMENTS:

5.1.OVR (Incident Report) IPP 5.2 Patients File. 6. REFERENCES: 6.1 Ministry of Health Policy and Procedures Manual. 7. APPENDIX: 7.1 N/A. 8. APPROVAL:

Name Prepared by: Magdalena Venzuela 1. Abdulla Obeid Al-Harby Reviewed by: 2. Fahad Al- Ammar 3. Ibrahim Al-Anezy 4.Ehab El Husseiny Ibrahim 5. Manae Al-Belaihy Approved by:
Policy Number:

Position Nurse Supervisor Nursing Director Patient Affairs Administration Head of Safety Security Department QM Director Medical Director Hospital Director

Signature

Date
22-11-1431 H 24-11-1431 H 29-11-1431 H 29-11-1431 H 29-11-1431 H 29-11-1431 H

Ahmad Abdulla Al-Omar

Title:

Page Number : 2/2

01-12-1431 H Approval Stamp

PP-BCH-NR/GNR-024-IPP-E

ABSCONDED PATIENT

Form Index: BCH-QM-009-E

Policy Number: PP-BCH-NR/GNR-024-IPP-E

Title: ABSCONDED PATIENT

Page Number : 3/2

Approval Stamp

Form Index: BCH-QM-009-E