BWH Philosophy on Restraint Use
The Brigham and Women’s Hospital endeavors to create a physical, social and cultural environment that eliminates the use of restraint whenever possible through preventive or alternative strategies unless it is clinically appropriate and occurs within adequately justified situations.
BWH believes that the patient has the right to be free from any form of restraint and if restraint is necessary, the intervention is applied in such a manner to protect the patient’s safety, rights, dignity and well-being. However, when necessary our standard is:
Restraint use is seen as
The last resort, after alternatives were tried and failed
The least restrictive, restraint devices that minimally restrict the patient are tried first before more restrictive devices are applied, and one device verses multiple.
The restraints are applied in such a manner as to protect the patient’s safety, rights, dignity and well being.
Once applied, periodic reassessment includes evaluation for releasing the restraint as soon as possible.
BWH’s organizational restraint policy describes in detail the specific requirements that must be met when restraints are used. The restraint policy is found in the Patient Care Services Manual N.C.P.M. STD-00.