The violent patient

Encounters with violent behavior are an inevitable part of working in emerg ency departments. By adoption of a cohesive, multidisciplinary approach to behavioral decompensation, as is done in preparation for airway compromise, the risk for injury to patients and staff is minimized. As with airway com promise, anticipation of and preparation for deterioration can avoid the ne cessity of the most invasive measures and can ensure a calm, positive outco me. With the appropriate knowledge, teamwork, and skills, even patients req uiring the most intensive intervention can be treated safely and profession ally.