|
|
|
The U.S. Surgeon General describes suicide as a major public health problem, one that the federal government is working to reduce. These endeavors will eventually reach communities and clinicians. In the meantime, health care providers who work with dying patients need to be aware of the risk of suicide among depressed patients.
How can a quality improvement team address this issue? One way would be to heighten awareness among clinicians and patients about depression and how it raises the risk of suicide. Institution-wide in-service or training programs can help to raise awareness, as can an increased institutional commitment to diagnosing and treating depression and dementia.
Quality improvement teams can work with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, bereavement counselors, and the clergy to get important information to unit staff. A local suicide prevention group might be willing to provide training and resources for clinicians and patients.
Increased awareness of pain assessment and treatment (see chapter 3) has improved pain management for many patients. Similar endeavors aimed at increasing awareness of depression and suicide impression may benefit patients, too. Make staff aware of the suicide risk factors for terminally ill patients; adapt the following short list for use with patients and providers.
| Suicide Risk Factors |
|---|
Knowing these risk factors might save a life:
|
<<< Previous Next >>> [ Go Up ]
|
This online version of the book Improving Care for the End of Life: A Sourcebook for Health Care Managers and Clinicians is provided with permission of Americans for Better Care of the Dying [ www.abcd-caring.org ] and Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For further information on quality improvement in end-of-life care visit The Palliative Care Policy Center [ www.medicaring.org ]. |
|
