Safe Searches: The Scale and Spread of a Quality Improvement Project.

To ensure the safety of staff, patients, and visitors to psychiatric inpatient units, a standardized safe search protocol was developed and implemented across a psychiatric facility. This article provides an overview of the methods used in the planning, implementation, and spread of this quality improvement initiative, focusing on the concepts of change management, leadership, and team involvement. The professional development of point-of-care staff is enhanced by active engagement in quality improvement initiatives.