suicide

Alameda County Medical Center / Highland General Hospital

Trauma Service

Suicide Attempts

Any patient who is suspected of a suicide attempt shall be placed in an emergency psychiatric ("5150") hold until

evaluated by the ACMC psychiatry service. The emergency psychiatric hold will only be lifted once the psychiatry

service has determined (and documented through written consultation) that the patient no longer poses a threat to his/her

life.

Should an emergency psychiatric consultation not be immediately available to a patient with no other medical/surgical

reasons for hospital admission, the patient will be held under observation in the Emergency Center or admitted to the

surgical floor until such time as psychiatric evaluation takes place.

All patients admitted to the ward under emergency psychiatric hold must have a 24-hour in-room sitter.

A Social Work consultation will also be obtained immediately in all patients suspected of a suicide attempt.