Multidimensional approach to restraint minimization: The journey of a specialized mental health organization

The executive‐level witnessing and review of restraint events has been identified as a key strategy for restraint minimization. In the present study, we examined the changes in restraint practices at a tertiary‐level mental health‐care facility with implementation of an initiative, in which representatives from senior management, professional practice, peer support, and clinical ethics witnessed seclusion and restraint events, and rounded with clinical teams to discuss timely release and brainstorm prevention strategies. Interrupted time series analysis compared the change from pre‐implementation (14 months prior) to postimplementation (35 months’ following) in the number of incidents/month, total hours/month, and average hours/incident/month for each of seclusion and mechanical restraint. With implementation, there was a step decrease in average hours/seclusion (–28.3 hours/seclusion, P