Seclusion
The involuntary confinement of a patient alone in a room or area from which they are physically prevented from leaving, used as a safety intervention in acute psychiatric settings.
Full Definition
Seclusion refers to the supervised isolation of a patient in a locked or otherwise secured space as a last-resort intervention to manage imminent risk of harm. Regulatory bodies such as The Joint Commission and CMS impose strict documentation, time-limit, and physician-order requirements for seclusion use. Editors must distinguish seclusion from 'restraint,' as the two are governed by separate regulatory standards despite often being grouped together in policy documents. The term should not be confused with 'time-out,' which is a voluntary, brief separation used in therapeutic contexts. Accurate use is critical in compliance reports and incident documentation.
Usage
Usage note: Never use interchangeably with 'restraint.' CMS and Joint Commission standards treat seclusion and restraint as distinct interventions with separate documentation requirements.
In Context
- "The incident report must document the less-restrictive interventions attempted before seclusion was initiated." — Incident report / compliance document
- "Regulations require a physician order within one hour of seclusion initiation; editors should verify this timeline is reflected accurately in the policy narrative." — Hospital policy document