Ask HRC: Defining Wandering and Elopement

An HRC member recently inquired about a definition of hazardous wandering and elopment specific to acute care; many available discussions on the topic focus on long-term care.

In our response, we note that, although it was derived from the continuing care literature where elopements are particularly problematic, the definition of elopement that is included in the HRC Hazardous Wandering and Elopement Risk Analysis ("when a patient/resident leaves a healthcare facility without staff knowledge of the departure") is applicable to acute care as well. Typically, an elopement in acute care occurs when the patient is discovered missing, which is a different situation than the patient leaving against medical advice. Individual organizations should develop definitions that...