Hello -
I work in a Nurse Advice Line department and we receive calls from people who have suicide ideation/attempt. We follow a triage protocol and ask questions to determine the severity of their situation. There are different levels of dispositions which is based on their answers to our questions. Depending on the disposition and whether the caller is alone or with others, we may call EMS for the patient (following the advice on the protocol). If the patient is with a responsible adult we would ask that person to call EMS for them and make sure the patient does not have access to firearms/medications. Depending on circumstance, we may advise patient to call EMS themself and the triager lets them know they will call back in a few minutes to make sure they reached EMS. We ask for a physical address early on in our conversation so that we can send EMS if necessary.
If the disposition is not so urgent we have crises hotline numbers to give to the caller and/or refer them to their provider within a set amount of time (again, depending on the care advice on protocol.
We follow their provider's directives in regards to notification and whether we would notify them right away or if they will just receive a report of the encounter so they can follow up with the patient.
Each caller's disposition is based on their conversation with the triage nurse.
I hope this helps some!
Wendy Bowman
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Wendy Bowman
Clinical Supervisor
ECU Health
Winterville NC
(252)847-7850
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-22-2024 09:24
From: Samantha Styne
Subject: Suicidal Ideation Screening: Telephone Triage
Good morning,
I am interested in how other organizations screen patients via telephone triage when a patient call reporting suicidal ideation (SI). Is the CSSRS used or is a telephone triage protocol used to assess the patient?
What is the process for contacting 911 if there is an emergent situation?
How are providers notified if their patient has called with SI and what are follow up steps?
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Samantha
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Samantha Styne MSN, RN, CPN
Pediatric SIG Chair
Rush University Medical Center -Chicago, IL
samantha_styne@rush.edu
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