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Staff Access
For Staff
Documentation - Inpatient
Risk of Self-Harm or Suicide
- When a patient indicates suicidal or self-harming ideation, specifically assess and document the following: plan, means and intent.
- After assessing a patient who expresses desire or intent to suicide or self-harm, you must notify the patient's nurse and medical team immediately.
- Document in the patient’s own words, any spoken intentions, threats, or plans to harm him/her self.
- Document any self-destructive behavior observed by the social worker.
- Document all actions taken by the social worker to ensure the patient’s safety.
- Documentation of the notification of the patient's primary team is essential.
For questions regarding patient risk of harm to self, the following resources may be contacted:
- The social worker’s supervisor or the social work administrator on-call (pager 23977).
- In house legal counsel, extension 6-8625, or through the page operator at 6-2241.
- MGH Clinical Policy and Procedure Manual -Suicidal Patients: Care of
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