SpeakerLaura A. Dixon, BS, JD, RN, CPHRMCourse CurriculumSuicide prevention and protecting patients from harm or strangulation continues to be a major focus of accreditation surveys. Suicide is the third most frequently reported sentinel event.The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has promulgated requirements for hospitals to prevent ligature risk and self-harm from patients who are suicidal. Any hospital that receives Medicare and/or Medicaid payments must implement these regulations for all patients.For acute hospitals, the CMS Conditions of Participation (CoPs) manual includes guidance on ligature-resistant environments under Tag A-0144 (Patient Rights) and Tag A-0701 (Physical Environment/Facility Services). These sections outline expectations for identifying areas that must be ligature resistant and describe required patient risk assessments, environmental risk assessments, staff education, and related policies and procedures.For Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), similar guidance appears in Appendix W of the CMS CoPs manual. In addition, 2025 regulatory updates affecting CAHs reinforce requirements related to patient rights, including the expectation that patients receive care in a safe setting.This program includes a discussion on The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals and Recommendations for Preventing Suicide in Health Care Settings. Resources will be provided along with tools to assess patients to determine if they have suicidal ideation.Continuing Education CreditsThe Georgia Hospital Association Research & Education Foundation is an approved provider of nursing home administrator credits as a professional trade association in long term care under Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 393-13-.02, (1) (a). Approved for 1.5 contact hours. By attending Ligature Risks and Preventing Inpatient Suicide: Compliance with CMS CoPs and TJC Resources webinar offered by Georgia Hospital Association, participants may earn up to 1.5 ACHE Qualifying Education Hours toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation. Attendees who wish to have the hours applied toward ACHE Qualifying Education credit must self-report their participation by logging into their MyACHE account and selecting ACHE Qualifying Education Credit. Visit the GHA Learning Academy for additional details and to register. If you need assistance with registration, please contact the education department at education@gha.org or 770-249-4529.
Speaker
Laura A. Dixon, BS, JD, RN, CPHRM
Course Curriculum
Suicide prevention and protecting patients from harm or strangulation continues to be a major focus of accreditation surveys. Suicide is the third most frequently reported sentinel event.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has promulgated requirements for hospitals to prevent ligature risk and self-harm from patients who are suicidal. Any hospital that receives Medicare and/or Medicaid payments must implement these regulations for all patients.
For acute hospitals, the CMS Conditions of Participation (CoPs) manual includes guidance on ligature-resistant environments under Tag A-0144 (Patient Rights) and Tag A-0701 (Physical Environment/Facility Services). These sections outline expectations for identifying areas that must be ligature resistant and describe required patient risk assessments, environmental risk assessments, staff education, and related policies and procedures.
For Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), similar guidance appears in Appendix W of the CMS CoPs manual. In addition, 2025 regulatory updates affecting CAHs reinforce requirements related to patient rights, including the expectation that patients receive care in a safe setting.
This program includes a discussion on The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals and Recommendations for Preventing Suicide in Health Care Settings. Resources will be provided along with tools to assess patients to determine if they have suicidal ideation.
Continuing Education Credits
The Georgia Hospital Association Research & Education Foundation is an approved provider of nursing home administrator credits as a professional trade association in long term care under Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 393-13-.02, (1) (a). Approved for 1.5 contact hours.
By attending Ligature Risks and Preventing Inpatient Suicide: Compliance with CMS CoPs and TJC Resources webinar offered by Georgia Hospital Association, participants may earn up to 1.5 ACHE Qualifying Education Hours toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation. Attendees who wish to have the hours applied toward ACHE Qualifying Education credit must self-report their participation by logging into their MyACHE account and selecting ACHE Qualifying Education Credit.
Visit the GHA Learning Academy for additional details and to register.
If you need assistance with registration, please contact the education department at education@gha.org or 770-249-4529.