Reducing Aggression on Inpatient Mental Health Units

This project focused on optimizing aggression prevention within the Forensic Program by improving clinical workflows, integrating technology enablers, and reinforcing adherence to care standards. A nursing-driven approach ensured the daily completion of the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression (DASA), followed by the activation of the Aggression Prevention Protocol (APP) for high-risk patients. To streamline the workflow, the prompts to complete APP assessment were embedded within existing assessments, minimizing documentation burden and improving process efficiency. Additionally, automated real time monitoring reports were developed, refreshing hourly to track compliance and highlight patients needing follow-up, while an email notification system alerted leadership when required interventions were missing. These enhancements fostered a proactive response to aggression risk, improving patient safety and reinforcing accountability among clinical teams.