How does the Joint Commission define the term “episode”, as used in the phrase, all restraint and seclusion episodes…” in standard PC.03.03.31?
A. The Joint Commission does not specifically define the term “episode” in the restraint and seclusion standards. An organization would be free to define this data element to meet their needs when collecting data on restraint and seclusion. For example, an organization may wish to collect data each time an order for behavioral restraint orders are written. In this case the definition for episode might be; each time a behavioral restraint is ordered whether for the same patient/resident/client or for different patients/residents/clients. An organization with a large behavioral population or multiple behavioral health care settings or psychiatric units might wish to collect data at a more general level. The definition in this organization might be, each time an LIP conducts a face-to-face reassessment and writes an order for restraint or seclusion. In both cases the organization defined this data element to fit within the scope of their data collection needs. This is not prohibited by th
