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Knowledge of Crisis Procedure

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Administrative Procedure for

When a Patient is Calling and in a Suicidal Crisis.

 

If a patient calls in a Direct suicidal crisis-They may say directly. I can’t take it anymore, I am going to end it all, I want to kill myself or hurt myself. Can I speak with a counselor or my (insert name of clinician).

 

  1. Maintain compassion and a tone of helpful concern. Let them know you’re going to get them to someone who can help them. Pull their file. Go get their primary counselor (if they are an existing patient). If their primary clinician isn’t working that day, get any clinician in the building. Even if the clinician is in a session with another patient, knock on the door, apologize for the interruption and let the clinician know, you please need them to step out for an emergency phone call. If they are not an existing patient get Cynthia Kindgren or another clinician, if Cynthia is not in the office. If there are no Clinicians working that day continue to step 2 

  2. If they are in immediate danger of harming themselves, ask if there is someone there with them that you can talk to that could transport them to Swedish American ER or the ER of their choice.

                       If someone is there with them continue to step 3

                       If they are alone, continue to step 4

 

    3.Ask to speak to the person who is with them. Get this person’s name and phone number. Tell them the person you just spoke with is in immediate danger and needs to be transported to the ER. Ask if they are able/willing to transport them? If yes continue here. If they are not able to transport them. Continue to step 4.  Give them the address to the Swedish American ER- 1401 E State St / Rockford, IL 61104. Tell them you will call the crisis line and let them know they are coming. Confirm that they are able/willing to transport to Swedes ER and they are leaving now. Then hang up and call 1 (779)-696-2273. Let them know the name of our office, the name of the patient, that the patient is suicidal and that they are on their way to the ER being transported by, give the name of the transporter. (if they prefer another hospital confirm the name and call that ER) Continue to step 5

 

  1. If there is no one there with them to speak to, or that person can not transport them to the ER. Ask the patient where they are right now. Get their address/location and keep them on the line.  Use a cell phone or another line in the office to call 911.  Tell them we have a patient who is suicidal. Give the police the patient’s location. Stay on the line with the patient. Let them know help is coming. When you are able contact the person that was listed on their emergency contact list (if an existing patient) and let them know what is happening. Also text Cynthia to let her know that a suicidal crisis is in progress. Stay on the line until the police arrive. Continue to step 5.

 

  1. Document the events onto an admin note. If Cynthia is out of the office, or she is not the primary counselor-Be sure to contact Cynthia and that Cynthia sees the admin note that day, if she’s in the office or the next day she is in the office.

 

 

 

 

If a patient calls in a Non-Direct potential suicidal crisis-They may say I’m having a really hard time. Can I speak with a counselor or my (insert name of clinician).

 

  1. Maintain compassion and a tone of helpful concern. Let them know you’re going to ask a few questions so you can get them to someone who can help them.

 

  1. Ask specifically if they are at risk for hurting themselves right now?

 

If YES continue to step 3.

If NO continue to step 7.

 

  1. Pull their file, Go get their primary counselor (if they are an existing patient). If their primary clinician isn’t working that day, get any clinician in the building. Even if the clinician is in a session with another patient, knock on the door, apologize for the interruption and let the clinician know, you please need them to step out for an emergency phone call. If they are not an existing patient get Cynthia Kindgren or another clinician, if Cynthia is not in the office. If there are no Clinicians working that day continue to step 4

 

  1. If they are in immediate danger of harming themselves, ask if there is someone there with them that you can talk to that could transport them to Swedish American ER or the ER of their choice.

 

If someone is there with them continue to step 5

If they are alone, continue to step 6

 

  1. Ask to speak to the person who is with them. Get this person’s name and phone number. Tell them the person you just spoke with is in immediate danger and needs to be transported to the ER. Ask if they are able/willing to transport them? If yes continue here. If they are not able to transport them. Continue to step 6.  Give them the address to the Swedish American ER- 1401 E State St / Rockford, IL 61104. Tell them you will call the crisis line and let them know they are coming. Confirm that they are able/willing to transport and they are leaving now. Then hang up and call  1 (779)-696-2273. Let them know the name of our office, the name of the patient, that the patient is suicidal and that they are on their way to the ER being transported by, give the name of the transporter. Continue to step 8

 

  1. If there is no one there with them to speak to, ask them where they are right now. Get their address/location and keep them on the line.  Use a cell phone or another line in the office to call 911.  Tell them we have a patient who is suicidal. Give the police the patient’s location. Stay on the line with the patient. Let them know help is coming. When you are able contact the person that was listed on their emergency contact list (if an existing patient) and let them know what is happening. Also text Cynthia to let her know that a suicidal crisis is in progress. Stay on the line until the police arrive. Continue to step 8.

 

 

 

 

 

7)         If they are not in immediate danger of harming themselves, give them these resources

 

National Suicide Hotline Talk or Text                                                           988

 

UW health Swedish American 24 hour crisis line                             1 (779)-696-2273

 

            Rosecrance crisis Intake line                                                              1 (866) 442-7403.

           

National Hopeline Network                                                                1 (800) SUICIDE

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline                                                 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255)

 

National Youth Crisis Hotline                                                            1 (800) 442-HOPE (4673)

           

            Text                                                                                                     NAMI to 741-741

           

            Veterans Crisis Line                                                                           1 (800)-273-8255 press 1

 

            Girls & Boys Town National Hotline                                                 1 (800) 448-3000

 

            Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside                                                            1 (815) 971-7000

 

            OSF St. Anthony ER                                                                          1 (815) 226-2000.

 

  1. Document the events onto an admin note. If Cynthia is out of the office, or she is not the primary counselor-Be sure to contact Cynthia and that Cynthia sees the admin note that day, if she’s in the office or the next day she is in the office.

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