Lower Use Of Restraints & Seclusion Linked To Safety Improvements & Lower Costs

Reducing the use of restraints and eliminating seclusion at a behavioral health care facility that serves at-risk and high-risk clients with intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD), and psychiatric disabilities resulted in reducing staff injuries. The lower injury rate resulted in lower lost-time expenses, lower turnover cost, and lower workers compensation policy costs. Between 2003 and 2016, the facility decreased use of restraints by 99%. During the same period, staff injuries due to a restraint declined by 97%, and client-induced staff injury declined by 64%. At the same time, consumer goal mastery increased by 133%.

These findings . . .