When creating a patient watch program, appropriate staffing, training, collaboration and contract language can help ensure the safety of patients, clinicians and security officers, according to an article on the Campus Safety website.
In developing a patient watch program, it is important not to confuse a patient watch with a sitter program.
A patient watch is implemented to monitor a patient for the purpose of protecting him or her and others from violent or aggressive behavior.
The medical and security staff must collaborate as the clinical demands of medical staff often prohibit them from being assigned solely to conduct patient watches.