(Hospital Logo)
POLICY TITLE: Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) Guideline
PAGE: 1 of 6 POLICY #: ORIGINATION DATE:
DEPARTMENT: Behavioral Health Dept. Name APPLIES TO: Behavioral Health, Emergency and Medical
Hospital Departments
DATES REVIEWED:
DATES REVISED: 10/03/2016
GUIDELINE PURPOSE: This guideline describes the process by which Behavior Emergency Response Team members
respond to the call to assist a patient in a behavioral crisis.
CROSS REFERENCES:
Patient Rights and Responsibilities Policy
De-Escalation of Patients Policy
CSG 001 Patient Restraint Policy
Crisis Prevention Institute, Inc. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Instructor's Manual. ( : If different approvedNOTE
non-violent crisis intervention training is used by the hospital, please designate the company name.)
SAMHSA Trauma Informed Care
GENERAL INFORMATION and DESIRED OUTCOME:
The Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) is the (Hospital Name) secondary line of intervention with patient in
psychiatric crisis behaviors, regardless of their presenting problem or primary diagnosis or legal status. The Unit Staff
intervene at the primary level. The BERT and the Unit Staff function together in the safe management of a psychiatric
crisis event.
Definition of a Behavior Emergency Response Team (BERT):
On all shifts a designated group of 5 individuals will respond to behavior crisis situations.
This group is composed of 1 BERT Team Leader and 4 BERT members.
•An alternate member is identified to supplement the team in the event a team member is unable to
respond.
Team Members are certified through completing at a minimum:
•6-8 hours De-escalation Training curriculum with an annual re-certification per Hospital policy.
• 2 hours of Team functional training.
•Trauma Informed Care Training
Team Members are staff members who are certified to be on the BERT and who attend regular BERT Meetings.
Minimal Qualifications for Behavioral Emergency Crisis Response Team Members:
1. Must be an employee of (Hospital Name) for at least 6 months or have previous 6 months of experience working
in a similar setting.
2. Must have successfully completed the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training Program by Crisis Prevention
Institute, Inc. (CPI) and any additional required training designated by (Hospital Name) Leadership. ( : If NOTE
different approved non-violent crisis intervention training is used by the hospital, please designate the company
name.)
3. Must attend Trauma Informed Care (TIC) Training focusing on the Recovery Model and patient centric culture of
care.
4. Must have demonstrated competence in the application of physical restraint.
1
Minimal Qualifications of a Behavioral Emergency Crisis Response Team Leader (In addition to minimal qualifications
above):
1. Demonstrate a proficiency in all aspects of CPI.
2. Musts have the ability to remain calm in a crisis situation.
3. Possess leadership ability, able to make decisions, delegate, direct, foster team unity and have a positive
attitude.
4. Must have superior assessment/communication skills to formulate an intervention plan upon arrival to each
BERT call.
5. Insure completion of all BERT documentation.
6. Possess ability to problem solve during and after each BERT call.
Area of Response: The BERT responds primarily to calls related to patients who are registered in the Emergency
