As Your Partner in Patient Safety, Kingsway Group exist to support you in delivering excellence in care in behavioral health and challenging environments. Our 7-Step De-Risk process, consisting of three distinct phases, plays a crucial role in achieving this.
In a recent series of blogs, we explored the first two phases of the Kingsway De-Risk process in depth: Relationship and Project Lifecycle. During these, we work alongside you to pinpoint the unique challenges and needs of your environment before identifying and delivering the optimum solutions to effectively minimize risk and improve patient (and staff) safety.
It’s at this point in a project that some suppliers may disengage, turning their attention towards the next project and leaving you to your own devices. At Kingsway Group, however, our role as Your Partner in Patient Safety means that we remain at your side to ensure continuity in safety and compliance beyond the project’s completion, forming the third phase in the Kingsway De-Risk process: Aftercare.
In the world of facilities management in behavioral healthcare, trust and collaboration between key suppliers and the facility plays a pivotal role in delivering safe and compliant environments. The first two phases of the Kingsway De-Risk process build the foundations of this trust, while the third phase, Aftercare, solidifies it over two key steps: Annual Safety Check & Compliance Review.
Annual Safety Check: ensuring long-term safety and compliance
The goal of the Annual Safety Check is to ensure your ligature resistant strategy is continuing to deliver life-saving benefits. During these checks, your Kingsway Project Manager will conduct a thorough inspection of every safety product installed to ensure optimal performance, compliance, and, where necessary, highlight any issues that need to be addressed. In high-risk areas like psychiatric wards or patient rooms, these inspections are essential for preventing issues before they arise to protect vulnerable patients.
Compliance Review: aligning with regional standards and safety guidelines
To properly protect vulnerable patients, it is crucial to ensure that your facility continues to meet the latest safety regulations and guidelines. Given that behavioral health environments often have varying requirements depending on the region, state or even the specific healthcare system, this step ensures your facility remains fully compliant with all the necessary standards.
Your Kingsway Project Consultant & Project Manager will support your facility in keeping its systems and ligature-resistant solutions up to date to ensure continued compliance. Different regions may follow guidelines set by varying authorities, information of which can be found in resources such as:
• Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI): Guidance for the planning, design, and construction of hospitals, outpatient facilities, and residential health, care, & support facilities
• ICC Digital Codes: A source for builders, developers, and manufacturers on creating safe, sustainable and affordable communities, providing model codes and standards for construction and public safety
• Behavioral Health Facility Consulting Design Guide: A guide written by Kim McMurray and Jim Hunt, updated annually to provide current information regarding products and philosophies for psychiatric hospitals and behavioral health facilities
• Joint Commission: A global driver of quality improvement and patient safety in healthcare and major advocates for safer healthcare through their interfaces with the federal government
• New York State Guide: Guidelines that apply solely to new construction and major renovation projects, updated annually and used for setting patient safety standards with materials and systems. Existing facilities should refer to these Guidelines as a reference whenever making improvements
Before we make any recommendations, we consider these regional differences and ensure that any proposed solutions align with your compliance needs.
The intended outcome of the Compliance Review is to ensure your behavioral health facility not only meets but exceeds the regulatory expectations set forth in your region. This review allows you to confidently provide a safe environment for both patients and staff, and should there be any updates or changes needed, your Kingsway Project Manager will be able to guide you through the process, recommending the best solutions your unique requirements.
If you have any questions related to compliance standards, Kingsway Group is always available to assist and connect you with the right resources to guide you through the compliance process. Simply contact us.
Conclusion: a holistic approach to safety and compliance
The final phase in the Kingsway De-Risk Process helps to ensure that your facility continues to meet the highest safety standards. Whether you are beginning to plan for upgrades or looking to ensure the current safety standards are upheld, each step of our De-Risk Process is designed to support you.
To see the benefits that our De-Risk Process can bring to your behavioral health environment, we encourage you to request a Facility Review below with one of Kingsway Group’s expert Project Consultants.