What is elopement in American law?
In: American Law Reports. Vol 37. 4th ed. Eagon, Minn: West Publishing; 1985:200. Table. Terminology Elopement patient—A patient who "is aware that he/she is not permitted to leave, but does so with intent." Wandering patient—A patient who "strays beyond the view or control of staff without the intent of leaving (cognitive impairment)."
What is elopement in disability and safety?
Disability and Safety: Information on Wandering (Elopement) This typically includes situations where the person may be injured or harmed as a result. 1 Wandering goes beyond the brief time that a typical toddler might run off from a caregiver. Some children and youth with disabilities, such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)...
How do you respond to a code green elopement?
Frequently referred to as "Code Green," the response to elopement requires both actions by staff in the area from which the patient is missing as well as an organization-wide response. A typical protocol includes the following steps: Notification of the operator by unit staff indicating a Code Green/Elopement.
What do you need to know about patient elopement?
Define elopement and differentiate it from wandering and leaving against medical advice. Identify leading contributors to elopement events. Describe strategies for preventing elopement and steps for responding after a patient elopement has been identified. Identify legal risks associated with elopement.
What is a code yellow?
No Danger Inside Building. MODIFIED LOCKDOWN – Hold and Secure. A CODE YELLOW alert signifies no immediate danger within the building or on the campus but a situation has arisen requiring all students and all staff to stay in the classrooms.
What is code Green?
Code Green is called when there is a need to evacuate all or part of the facility to another area within the facility, or out of the facility all together.
What is code Orange?
A Code Orange is used to respond safely and effectively to a disaster external to the hospital that is likely to increase the capacity and use of hospital resources. At QHC, the Code Orange is used to manage the following three scenarios: Mass casualty incidents external to the hospital.
What is code Purple?
Code Purple – Hostage Situation. Code Purple is called in the event that a person is forcibly confined. or held against his/her will, with the threat of a weapon or threat. of violence.
What is Code black?
Code Black – Personal Threat – Violent or. Threatening Confrontation or Threat of Suicide.
What is a code Pink?
• A code pink is a widely accepted. emergency code to alert staff that an. infant or child is missing or has been. abducted.
What is a code GREY?
be moved. Code Gray: Combative or violent patient. Amber Alert: Infant or child missing or abducted.
What is a code blue?
A “blue code” is defined as any patient with an unexpected cardiac or respiratory arrest requiring resuscitation and activation of a hospital-wide alert.
What does code silver mean?
weapon or hostage situationCode Silver: weapon or hostage situation. Code White: neonatal emergency or, in other hospitals, aggressive person evacuation.
What is code Red?
Code Red and Code Blue are both terms that are often used to refer to a cardiopulmonary arrest, but other types of emergencies (for example bomb threats, terrorist activity, child abductions, or mass casualties) may be given code designations, too.
What is a code brown at Walmart?
Code Brown – Shooting. Code Green – Hostage situation. Code Orange – Chemical spill. Code Red – Fire.
What do you do during a code pink?
Code Pink: Infant AbductionRespond to the nearest exit and screen everyone leaving the building.Be alert for people with children or large bags/packages.Report any suspicious or unusual situations to security immediately.
What Can We Do to Keep Children Safe Who Might Wander?
Notice signs that the child may wander off before it happens (for example, child makes a certain sound or looks towards the door)
Resources
The AAP provides information and resources for professionals and families on the identification and healthcare management of children and youth with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
What is an elopement in nursing homes?
In nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, an elopement is a form of unsupervised wandering that leads to the resident leaving the facility. This endangers the resident immediately and can result in serious injury, or even death, depending on circumstances such as the location of the facility, the time of year, ...
Why is understaffing a major contributing factor to elopement?
Understaffing is a major contributing factor to elopement because when a facility is not properly staffed, residents go unattended for long amounts of time. Wandering and elopement occur when residents are left unsupervised.
Can wandering lead to elopement?
If unsupervised, wandering can lead to elopement. Unsupervised or excessive wandering and elopement should be managed. If it’s not managed by staff properly, it is nursing home neglect.
Is elopement preventable?
Elopement is preventable with the proper policies and procedures in place. Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are required by law to properly staff the facility, train employees about wandering and elopement, provide a plan of care for each resident, and create and maintain a safe environment.
What is an emergency code?
EMERGENCY CODES ARE COLOR-CODED INDICATORS used in health care facilities to alert all staff members of potential issues arising in a facility. These codes include unique prescribing criteria for how staff members should respond to a particular situation, ranging from an active shooter incident to cardiac arrest. As a result, specific statistics are unavailable for many of these codes. However, some of the most notable statistics include the following:
What is code brown?
Code Brown – Severe Weather. Believe it or not, a Code Brown is not widely used in health care facilities regarding bowel movements. Although, some facilities may use “Code Brown” as a non-emergent indicator of bowel movements. Most facilities use “Code Brown” to denote severe weather impacting the facility.
What is code silver?
However, Joint Commission standards were updated in 2010, which advise facility managers to use Code Silver to denote active shooter incidents. During this emergency preparedness code activation, an overhead announcement may be made.
What does code pink mean?
Code Pink denotes a missing child in health care facilities. However, Code Purple may be used in conjunction with Code Pink to provide additional direction and information regarding an abduction.
What is the code for cardiac arrest?
Code Blue is among the most easily recognized emergency codes in existence. While most associate it with the cardiac arrest of a patient, it may be used to denote any medical emergency in a health care facility, including medical emergencies involving patient family members.

Case Objectives
- Define elopement and differentiate it from wandering and leaving against medical advice.
- Identify leading contributors to elopement events.
- Describe strategies for preventing elopement and steps for responding after a patient elopement has been identified.
- Identify legal risks associated with elopement.
Case & Commentary: Part 1
- A 61-year-old male with a history of chronic pancreatitis and cardiomyopathy attributed to alcohol was admitted for chest pain, acute on chronic renal failure, and altered mental status. After being treated for his worsening cardiomyopathy and renal failure, his mental status began to clear. On the morning of anticipated discharge, he was not in his room at the time of the physician's visit. …
Case & Commentary: Part 2
- Ultimately, the patient was found outside of the emergency department (ED), with ED Discharge Instructions in his hand. The patient apparently told the ED staff that he had recently been discharged and was waiting for a ride. He was brought into the ED. Because he was a "frequent flyer" there and complained of pain, he received his "usual" 1 mg of intravenous Dilaudid and 2 lit…
References
- 1. DeRosier JM, Taylor L. Analyzing missing patient events at the VA. TIPS (Topics in Patient Safety). November/December 2005;5:1-2. Available at: http://www.va.gov/ncps/TIPS/Docs/TIPS_NovDec05.pdf. Accessed December 6, 2007. 2. Kosieradzki MR, Smith JE. Common injuries—elopement and wandering. In: Conlin RB, Cusiman…
Table
- Table. Terminology *Note: These are general legal definitions; variations will occur from state to state.