Long-term restraint reduction: one hospital's experience with restraint alternatives

Over the last several years, regulatory bodies have implemented and maintained strict standards and regulations regarding the use of restraint in the acute care setting. Hospitals have responded by attempting to reduce restraint use and increase alternatives to restraint. Our hospital formed a Restraint Reduction Task Force, setting a goal to decrease restraint use. This article describes the task force's actions, interventions, and findings for the long-term reduction of restraint use in a 236-bed community-based hospital setting. Hospital administrators have been and continue to be supportive of the initiatives set forth by the Restraint Reduction Task Force, which has been a vital component of the ongoing restraint reduction efforts in the hospital.