Case Study: Reducing Restraints and Improving Communication in Inpatient Psychiatry

A prominent Northeast healthcare system identified a critical issue within its 13-bed inpatient psychiatric unit: restraint use was significantly higher than state norms, and communication practices failed to meet Joint Commission standards.

An HCT interim leader was brought in to address both challenges. By implementing a standardized communication tool (PSYCH-SBAR) and restructuring safety huddles, the interim leader created a consistent approach to information sharing, de-escalation techniques and team collaboration. The result was a dramatic reduction in restraint use and improved clinical coordination.

Key Results:

Data collected from a 60-day period before and after the intervention demonstrated the following outcomes:

• A reduction in the number of physical restraint episodes from 74 to 14.

• A decrease in the weekly average of restraints from 9.25 to 1.75.

• Enhanced communication during safety huddles

• Enabled earlier and more effective intervention by clinical staff