Welcome to Jefferson Regional Medical Center

WANDERING/LOST PATIENT (CODE GREEN)

No employee or volunteer is authorized to make a public statement concerning this incident or to communicate with a member of the media. The police and the Administration will make the  determination of who will  be notified and when. Only person(s) with a valid reason to know should be told about a missing patient.

SECTION 2:  PURPOSE

To ensure that all FACILITY personnel and outside agencies are notified appropriately, with the goal being to locate the missing  Patient as quickly as possible.  Effective crisis management  requires close cooperation between nurses, aides,  administrators, security, law enforcement personnel and the media.  Given the possibility of harm to the patient, time becomes critical and decisions must be made quickly and in cooperation with all involved.

SECTION 3:  PROCEDURE

I. HOSPITAL

A. Staff Nurse:

1. When a staff nurse suspects a patient is missing, he/she will immediately notify and
       collaborate with the Nursing Shift Supervisor and Security as well as search the entire
       unit and  do a complete count of all patients on the unit.

2. If the patient cannot be found, call extension 3333 (in-house operator) and advise the
      operator of the CODE GREEN and give the name, description and last known
      location of the patient.

POLICY: Appendix 3

JEFFERSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
POLICY/PROCEDURE

SUBJECT: WANDERING / LOST  PATIENT

DISTRIBUTION:   All Departments, Crystal Oaks & Clinics
______________________________________________________________________________
SECTION 3:  PROCEDURE (CONTINUED)

B. Nursing Shift Supervisor / Security:

1. If the incident occurs during shift change, personnel scheduled to leave should stay and assist in the search for the missing patient.

2. If the patient can not be located with in 15 minutes, notify the Administrator on Call and contact the local police department for their assistance, (Give them all necessary information), then complete a incident report.

C. Operator:

1. When advised by the Nursing Shift Supervisor or security of a CODE GREEN you will overhead page for the code and give the floor or area the patient has left. (NO OTHER INFORMATION IS TO BE OVERHEAD PAGED)

D. Administration:

1. May (if needed) develop a plan to meet the needs of each situation.  This plan may
      include the following :

-Additional nursing personnel or security personnel.
-Administrative coverage during this crisis.
-Assessing the need for media coverage and assistance from other agencies.

II. CRYSTAL OAKS

A. Staff Nurse / Aide:

1. When a staff nurse / aide suspects a Patient is missing, he/she will immediately notify
       the Shift Supervisor of the Facility as well as search the entire unit and do a
       complete count of all patients on the unit.

2. If the patient cannot be found, the supervisor should page CODE GREEN using the
all call on the nurse call system and give the hall location from where the patient
      resides. (NO OTHER INFORMATION IS TO BE  OVERHEAD PAGED)

POLICY: Appendix 3

JEFFERSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
POLICY/PROCEDURE

SUBJECT: WANDERING / LOST  PATIENT

DISTRIBUTION:   All Departments, Crystal Oaks & Clinics
______________________________________________________________________________
SECTION 3:  PROCEDURE (CONTINUED)
B.  Shift Supervisor:

1. Contact the Security Department for assistance. (Give them all necessary information). If the incident occurs during shift change, personnel scheduled to leave should stay and assist in the search for the missing patient.

2. If the patient can not be located with in 15 minutes, notify the Administrator on Call and contact the local police department for their assistance, (Give them all necessary information), then complete a incident report.

C. Administration:

1. May (if needed) develop a plan to meet the needs of each situation.  This plan may
      include the following:

-Additional nursing personnel or security personnel.
-Administrative coverage during this crisis.
-Assessing the need for media coverage and assistance from other agencies.

US Patent Numbers 7,720,998 B2, 7,836,207