Completing a Safety Plan with a client at increased risk for suicide, risk to others, or self-harming behavior is an essential step to ensuring a client’s care needs are being met. At Rula, we recommend using an evidence-based safety planning template, such as the Stanley Brown, which you and your clients can easily access in a few ways.
You can add or update a client's safety plan from a session note in the Rula provider portal. This option offers the ability to collaboratively create a Safety Plan with the client in session and document the safety plan directly in the client's record.
Completing a safety plan with a client at increased risk for suicide, risk to others, or self-harming behavior is an essential step to ensuring a client’s care needs are being met.
Guided Steps
Adding a safety plan
- Log in to the provider portal
- Click on the Clients tab, located on the menu on the left side of the page
- Select the client you need to add the safety plan for
- Find the appointment for the date you want and click Start progress note or Complete progress note.
- This wording will reflect the template or appointment type (progress note or Initial Assessment).
- On the right side of the page, click Add safety plan
- Make the changes you need to the safety plan.
- Click Save.
- A pop-up will appear where you need to confirm that you have reviewed the safety plan with your client and that the information is correct. Click Save and attest.
- The safety plan has been created and sent to the client.
The safety plan will now be updated. It will automatically be added to new progress notes for this client.
Updating a safety plan
If you need to update a client's safety plan, you can do so from the Client Chart.
- Log in to the provider portal
- Click on the Clients tab, located on the menu on the left side of the page
- Select the client you need to add the safety plan for
- Click View care plans in the top-right corner of the chart
- Click Manage safety plan
- Now you can edit the safety plan and click Save
FAQ
Are safety plans required for all clients?
No - While we encourage you to create a safety plan for all patients, it is not required unless your client has a PHQ-9 score of 19 or higher and/or a C-SSRS score of 2 or higher.
Do my clients get a copy of their safety plan?
Yes! They will receive an email whenever their safety plan is created/updated, and they can view it in their Rula patient portal.
Can a client have more than one safety plan?
No, each patient can only have one safety plan. If they have more than one provider on their care team, all providers will be able to access and edit the plan.
Can clients edit their own safety plans?
No, only providers on their care team can make updates to safety plans.
Am I required to update the safety plan?
Yes - 120 days after a safety plan has been created, providers must verify with the client that the safety plan is up-to-date, regardless of the patient’s risk status at that time.
Can I save a partially finished safety plan?
No, you must complete all required fields in order to save a safety plan.
Can I bill for completing a Safety Plan with a client?
Safety Planning should occur collaboratively during the session with your client, and you will capture the time spent creating the Safety Plan in the CPT code you are already using. For example, you might spend 20 minutes safety planning during a 55-minute 90837 Individual Therapy session.
Can I just use a “safety contract” with clients instead of a safety plan?
As a profession, we do not “contract for safety” or use a “no-suicide contract.” There is no evidence that these approaches work, nor are they considered trauma-informed approaches to managing risk. Additionally, a no-suicide contract does not protect therapists from potential liability should a client's suicide occur.
Can I see an example of a completed safety plan?
You got it! Click HERE.
Does Rula have a Policy on Risk Assessment and Safety Planning?
Yes, it can be found here.
If you have questions or support needs related to Safety Plans, reach out to our clinical quality team at quality@rula.com. Therapist to therapist - we’re here for you!
Note: If you have a patient safety concern or need support managing a clinical risk situation, please reach out to the Patient Safety Clinical Risk team by submitting this Patient Safety & Clinical Risk Service Request Form.
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