The Joint Commission issued a report on patient suicide prevention and mitigation October 25 after data was gathered from healthcare organizations on suicides that occurred in their facilities. Officials from provider organizations, suicide prevention experts, behavioral health designers, Joint Commission surveyors and staff, and members of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) were brought together. The report reveals that an average of 85 suicides have been reported as sentinel events to the Joint Commission over the last five years. The newest recommendations address topics related to inpatient psychiatric units (IPUs), general acute inpatient settings and emergency departments.

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