EMERGENCY PROCEDURES MANUAL - Department of Health

CODE GREY
EMERGENCY RESPONSE MEDICAL OFFICER
Emergency Department
• 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
• Senior Emergency Medical Officer on duty.
For all other codes, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, the Code Grey
Medical Officer is the rostered Receiving Medical Registrar.
The Emergency Response Medical Officer will:
• Proceed immediately to stated location.
• Obtain brief history of immediate preceding events and past medical history
from medical record or department staff.
• As appropriate, use interpersonal skills to attempt to defuse the situation.
• Consider possibility of readily identifiable organic illness and exclude/treat as
indicated.
• Liaise with Emergency Response Co-ordinator in developing a plan to control
the situation and effect restraint of patient.
• Consult as appropriate with on call Psychiatric Registrar
• Order initial chemical restraint if appropriate
• Document the incident in the patient’s Unit Record
• Write appropriate orders if patient is to be physically restrained in bed.
• Assist in post incident debriefing as indicated.
• Contact patient's treating unit and ensure ongoing management, including
physical and chemical restraint.
• Once the treating unit Medical Officer has arrived, the Emergency Response
Medical Officer may hand over responsibility to that Medical Officer.
NB. The Response Medical Officer is responsible for decisions regarding the
clinical management of the patient but will defer to the Emergency Response Coordinator
regarding containment of the violent behaviour.
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