General acute hospitals and critical access hospitals must comply with CMS regulations protecting patient rights. According to CMS and accrediting organizations such as Det Norske Veritas and The Joint Commission, one of the most-cited condition-level deficiencies is patient rights and responsibilities. Within that condition, most noncompliance citations come from the regulations governing the provision of care in a safe environment, abuse, restraints and seclusion.
 
Learning objectives
• Discuss CMS definitions of abuse, restraints and seclusion.
• Describe abuse investigation requirements.
• Describe the documentation requirements for restraints and seclusion.
• Explain restraint death reporting requirements.

Intended audience
• Behavioral health and psychiatric staff.
• CEOs.
• Chief medical officers.
• Chief nursing officers.
• Compliance officers and legal counsel.
• Emergency department staff.
• Nurse leaders.
• Physicians.
• Quality improvement staff.
• Risk management staff.
• Safety officers.