Which Patients Does NPSG 15 Apply To?

Which patients does NPSG 15 apply to? Does it apply to a patient whose primary condition is NOT behavioral health related?

The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goal NPSG15 states:

“Screen all patients for suicidal ideation who are being evaluated or treated for behavioral health conditions as their primary reason for care using a validated screening tool. Note: The Joint Commission requires screening for suicidal ideation using a validated tool starting at age 12 and above.”

Is a separate hospital policy needed for screening patients for suicide who were not admitted for behavioral health reasons? 

Which Patients Does NPSG 15 Apply To?

TJC does not require suicide risk screening for all patients. It only requires screening for those who come to the hospital for a primary behavioral health condition. The hospital may choose to screen all individuals by their own policy design. This could be in either one or two policies for behavioral health patients and medical patients.

Patton Healthcare Consulting

Patton Healthcare Consulting provides a complete range of Joint Commission and CMS Compliance Assistance and a full range of pre-survey and post survey services.

In fact, we serve more than 350 hospitals, behavioral health care organizations, ambulatory clinics and home care companies nationwide—hospitals ranging from critical access hospitals to the largest health systems. Contact us at (888) PHC-INC1 for more information.