Policies and procedures of Male Ward

AN-NUAIRYIAH GENERAL Departmental Policy and Procedure (DPP)

HOSPITAL
POLICY NO: 13 Replaces NO: NEW NO OF PAGE: 1 of 3
TITLE: ABSCONDED ISSUE DATE: EFFECTIVE DATE:
PATIENT SEPTEMBER 2016 JANUARY 2017
REVIEW DATE: JANUARY APPLIES TO: MALE WARD STAFF
2019

13.1 DEFINITION

Refers to a patient who is admitted and under treatment and in the care of the
hospital facility that departs intentionally without informing the floor or ward
nurse. This also refers to patient who unintentionally leaves due to lack of
awareness or disoriented.

13.2 OBJECTIVES

1. To enhance the security and safety of all the patient who are receiving care
and treatment in the hospital.
2. To protect hospital staff from possible legal issues consequence of absconding
patient.

13.3 POLICY
1. Absconding is inevitable and should be reported IMMEDIATELY to;
a. Nursing staff
b. Attending Physician
c. Admission Officer
d. Security-in-Charge
e. Nursing Supervisor
f. Social Worker
g. Inter hospital police for legal issues
2. The incident must be documented immediately directly from the chart after
the patient absconded.
3. Patients categorized as high risk in watch list
a. Psychiatric patient
b. Confused elderly
c. Head trauma experiencing temporary amnesia
d. Without residence permit
e. Payment patient
f. Prisoners
g. Mentally handicapped
h. Children without watcher
4. A search is done prior informing supervisor upon discovering the patient has
gone missing.
 Policies and procedures of Male Ward

AN-NUAIRYIAH GENERAL Departmental Policy and Procedure (DPP)

HOSPITAL
POLICY NO: 13 Replaces NO: NEW NO OF PAGE: 2 of 3
TITLE: ABSCONDED ISSUE DATE: EFFECTIVE DATE:
PATIENT SEPTEMBER 2016 JANUARY 2017
REVIEW DATE: JANUARY APPLIES TO: MALE WARD STAFF
2019

13.4 PROCEDURE
1. Establish if the patient is not in the ward by checking all rooms and
corridors.
2. Immediately report the absence to the Head Nurse after you have
exhausted search. Informing the Head Nurse establish to report the case
to the responsible authorities in the hospital. Security will immediately
alert for search and coordination.
3. Involve in the search
a. Security
b. Administration Supervisor-on-duty
c. Nursing Supervisor
4. Inform supervisor Social Worker.
5. Write an incident report submit to Nursing Supervisor and he/she will
inform the Attending Physician. Document the following;
a. DATE AND TIME
b. WHEN WAS THE LAST PATIENT SEEN AND WHERE
c. WHEN HIS LAST ABSENCE WAS DISCOVERED
d. THE AREA OF SEARCH
e. RECORD ADVISE GIVEN BY THE NURSING SUPERVISOR
f. THE SECURITY ON DUTY AND WHAT TIME REPORTED
6. Submit completed file to Medical Records Department. Update census
sheets.

AS PER HOSPITAL POLICY, A MAXIMUM OF 6 HOURS IS

CONSIDERED ABSCONDED. PATIENT SHOULD BE
INVESTIGATED BY THE SOCIAL WORKER AND NOTIFY THE
FAMILY IF KNOWN.
 Policies and procedures of Male Ward

AN-NUAIRYIAH GENERAL Departmental Policy and Procedure (DPP)

HOSPITAL
POLICY NO: 13 Replaces NO: NEW NO OF PAGE: 3 of 3
TITLE: ABSCONDED ISSUE DATE: EFFECTIVE DATE:
PATIENT SEPTEMBER 2016 JANUARY 2017
REVIEW DATE: JANUARY APPLIES TO: MALE WARD STAFF
2019

APPROVAL:

NAME SIGNATURE DATE

Prepared by: Ms. Kimberly R. Rabanal

Head Nurse, Male Ward
Reviewed by: DR.MUSTAFA EL-SHERBINI
Quality Director
Reviewed by: Ms. MARITES O DATUNGPUTI
Nursing Director
Approved by: DR.JAMAL EL-GHARIB
Medical Director
Approved by: MR. HAMAD AYED AL-
QAHTANI
Hospital Director