Patient physical restraint

(a) Patients may be physically restrained only by order of a physician or licensed independent practitioner who has determined such restraint is required to prevent injury to the patient or others or prevent serious disruption in the therapeutic environment. Orders for physical restraint shall include a statement of reason for the restraint and specify which approved facility methods and devices shall be used. Alternative measures to the use of physical restraints shall be evaluated prior to their use. Physical restraints shall not be imposed for discipline or convenience purposes. (b) Emergency physical restraint to ensure the physical safety of the patient, staff, or other patients may be initiated by a registered nurse who obtains written or verbal consent from a physician or licensed independent practitioner within a time-frame specified by written facility policy. Verbal physical restraint orders shall be signed by the physician or licensed independent practitioner as soon as possible within twenty-four (24) hours. Physical restraint orders shall automatically terminate as specified by facility policy, or sooner as warranted by the patient's condition. If physical restraint is to continue past the time-frame specified by facility policy, a new order shall be obtained from a physician or licensed independent practitioner. (c) Patients may be restrained only in accordance with documented specific policies established by the medical staff and the governing body. These policies shall include circumstances in which restraint is appropriate and specific techniques and devices that shall be used for restraint. (d) Physically restrained patients shall be monitored as required by facility policy and justification for continued restraint shall be documented. A physically restrained patient shall have restraint devices OAC 310:667 OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 32 September 13, 2019 released at time-frames specified by facility policy; and the patient shall be repositioned, exercised, or provided range of motion and toileted as necessary.