NEW ORLEANS: An interdisciplinary pilot program effectively deals with behavioral disturbances arising from delirium, dementia, or other mental illnesses in hospitalized older adults ― while keeping both the patients and frontline clinicians safe, new research shows.
Within 2 years of implementing the Safe Patients/Safe Staff program at an acute care hospital, there was a significant decrease in behavioral problems, as well as fewer staff-reported incidents of patient-related physical violence. In addition, a majority of the staff reported that the program made them feel safer…