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. 2024 Feb 19;14(2):e082834. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082834

Table 1.

Sample elements of initial ED-TREAT prototype

Risk level Project BETA5 guidelines Recommended tasks
Negligible
  1. Medical evaluation and triage13

  1. Collect medical history and physical exam

  2. Obtain early vital signs and fingerstick glucose

  3. Address psychosocial needs and establish rapport

  4. Standardise assessment to avoid structural biases/inequities

Mild to moderate
  1. Psychiatric evaluation and risk assessment76

  2. Psychopharmacology18

Tasks in negligible risk level PLUS:
  1. Measure Behavioural Activity Rating Scale75

  2. Offer voluntary oral medication (with allergies cross-checked)

High
  1. Environmental modification (avoidance of restraint and seclusion)20

  2. Verbal de-escalation19

Tasks in mild to moderate risk-level PLUS:
  1. Alert clinician early (from triage/nursing assessment)

  2. Perform pre-emptive verbal de-escalation (ten domains)

  3. Move to quiet, low activity/volume area

BEAT, Best Practices in Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation; ED-TREAT, Early Detection and Treatment to Reduce Events with Agitation Tool.