Provided by:  Jennifer Kirschenbaum, Esq.

May 4, 2021

Question:

Hi Jennifer, 

It's a strange time and my office is nervous.  Some patients have been a bit more unhinged.  What steps do you recommend to protect against an unstable patient?

Thanks,
Dr. K


Answer:

Well, my answer is not new this year than any other year.  If you have a patient or invitee or vagrant harassing and threatening your staff, call the police. Call the police for safety reasons and for record keeping reasons - you will want a police report in case there are multiple infractions and you wish to seek a protective order from the courts.  If the patient departs prior to law enforcement showing up, still file the report. 

If your employees have expressed feeling uneasy, or even if they have not, it is a good idea to discuss a plan on how to handle difficult patients.  Happy to help, if requested.