August 19, 2024

The New York State Office of Mental Health has updated its guidance regarding the use of PRN and STAT Medications in OMH-Licensed Inpatient and Emergency Settings.  This version supersedes the April 2010 version. 

The guidance has been updated to increase clarity on when STAT medications may be used and how to reduce risk of citations for use of chemical restraints. It also includes specific recommendations for non-pharmacological strategies for de-escalation, encourages shared decision making, includes updated documentation recommendations, and includes additional suggestions on how to avoid medication adverse effects. 

The new guidance can be found here: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/guidance/prn-stat-meds.pdf