Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
elopement
Unauthorized departure of a patient from a psychiatric facility or designated treatment area.
Full Definition
In psychiatric hospital settings, elopement refers to a patient leaving the facility or treatment unit without proper authorization or discharge procedures. This term is preferred over 'escape' as it is less stigmatizing and more clinically appropriate. Elopement incidents require immediate notification of security, administration, and sometimes law enforcement, depending on the patient's legal status and risk assessment. Comprehensive documentation and root cause analysis are typically required following elopement events.
Usage
Usage note: Preferred term over 'escape' in clinical documentation to reduce stigma.
In Context
- "The elopement risk assessment identified several vulnerabilities in unit security protocols." — quality improvement report
- "Staff immediately activated the elopement response procedure when the patient was discovered missing." — incident report
Also known as
unauthorized departure
patient departure
Contrasted with
discharge
authorized leave
Don't confuse with
discharge
AMA
escape