Incident Numbers - a COVID Benefit?
Who would have thought COVID could have a positive outcome of any kind. But that seems to have happened with incident reports at GSS. Our general staff meetings (GSMs) were ideal for quick updates on incident report trends across GSS but the meetings got derailed by COVID. Since the last update was at the January GSM meeting, it’s time for a look at what’s been happening with incidents since COVID set in. First, we’ll look at the overall numbers then take a closer look at numbers by program and then by incident types.
Biggest IR declines in early 2019 and 2020
chart a
As Chart A shows, there is a strong downward trend in the number of incident reports– early last year and this year after COVID settled in.
In early 2019, regular or normal client events started to be tracked in client files instead of being written up as safety incidents. Incident reports dropped from 194 to 105 in the next quarter.
The next drop happened this spring, April – June, as COVID set in. Shelter became an extended-stay Detox site, reducing numbers and incidents there. At PSH sites, residents limited interactions both in and outside the site which also dropped incidents numbers.
Shelter & PSH programs with higher IR #s
chart b
Chart B shows that the incident numbers have been consistently higher at Shelter/Detox with residential PSH sites coming in second highest. A new pattern will develop over the next year with Shelter becoming a Medical Detox site and Christopher’s Place transitioning to a non-residential Scattered Site PSH program. Incident reports are notably lower at Cloverleaf, CAT and POD with no reports from Housing First and George’s House.
Now, let’s look at incident types.
Higher risk incidents notable drop spring, 2020, compared to same period last year
chart c
This chart shows that the number of Low risk incidents* has been consistently around 50 for the April to June quarter in 2019 and in 2020. But, the number of Medium, High, and Extreme risk incidents dropped noticeably this year, as noted earlier, due to COVID program responses.
*Low risk incidents are minor medical issues like bruises, slips, or lower level verbal exchanges. Medium, High and Extreme risk incidents involve more actual or potential harm, for example, through escalated behavior, self-harm, or weapons use.
‘Client aggression’ and ‘medical attention’ most frequent IR types
The last chart, D, shows that the highest number of incidents from January – June, 2020, involved ‘client aggression’, typically client-to-client aggression or client-to-staff aggression. De-escalation training is increasing at GSS in response to this pattern. The next highest incident type is ‘medical attention’ where staff respond to symptoms like chest pains or seizures. In 2020, that category included responding to COVID-like symptoms. Staff reported other incident types but much fewer than the two main categories.
Thanks to everyone for preparing these important reports. Ideally, the low numbers we’re seeing will continue even when COVID is (finally) over.