What is a Q15 Minute Safety Check?

The primary goal of inpatient behavioral treatment is to keep patients safe from themselves and each other while they receive treatment so that they can return to the community. The consistent presence of caregivers is one of the foundations of safety.

To ensure direct care staff are consistently setting eyes on each patient, hospitals have adopted Q15 minute safety checks. Historically, these are documented on a paper form (like the one pictured above) and stored on-site for multiple years.

What a Q15 check is

A Q15 is a safety check occurring every 15 minutes. The "Q" means "every" (Latin, quaque). Fifteen minutes is the interval for a Q15, but you may also see Q60 for lower-acuity patients, Q4h water checks, Qshift environmental checks, and so on.

Q15s are typically the minimum level of contact between caregivers and patients on an inpatient unit. Some patients may be on "close observation" (always in line of sight) or "1-on-1" (always within arm's reach), depending on their precautions, suicide risk, and other factors.

Who performs and reviews them

• Q15s are the primary responsibility of front-line caregivers (health techs, etc.).
• Nurses review and audit them periodically to support patient health and front-line compliance.

What a Q15 check confirms

Each check requires visual contact with the patient, sometimes within a certain number of feet or arm's reach. The caregiver:

• Confirms signs of life (e.g., breathing while asleep)
• Confirms location (e.g., checking against elopement)
• Notes patient activity and affect (e.g., checking for behavior risks)

How Q15s are documented

Checks are recorded on a Q15 minute check form and stored physically or electronically for future reference.

Get a free Q15 formBased on industry best practices and fully customizable for your unit.