Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
 
Board
State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
 
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5/19/25  6:47 am
Commenter: Dr. Bobbie Hansel-Union

Seclusion and Restraint
 

Currently, under the DBHDS purview, only a psychologist may write a restrictive behavior plan. Other professionals should be allowed to approve restrictive medical devices with the individual's/guardian's permission. However, the OHR considers many things to be restrictive, which are safety precautions that many of us use in everyday life. Medical devices need to be fast-tracked through OHR or have an exclusion. A few examples, a 5-piece safety harness for an individual with low muscle tone, may need a more secure safety harness (seat belt) when in a wheelchair or vehicle. The use of a location device (Project Lifesaver, Angel Sense, Apple Watch) to help locate a missing person. A person with limited communication skills or high anxiety who looks aggressive may be trying to seek help from a stranger who does not understand the person's limitations. Bed rails are used as a gentle reminder to ask for help when getting out of bed. It took me over a year to get approved for an individual to be able to wear his soft helmet. This person knew when a seizure was about to happen and was able to doff and don his helmet without assistance. We had to get letters from the individual, with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, his PCP, neurologist, and a psychologist who would see him for this purpose only. In the meantime, the individual sustained multiple head injuries due to not being allowed to wear his helmet before or during the seizure. The provider was held responsible for an infringement of human rights if the individual put on their helmet. 

CommentID: 235591