Is patient unconscious or unable to give

informed consent for care?

Yes or No

If Yes, continue to the next step

If No, nothing further is needed

Is patient accompanied by

a family member or surrogate

decision maker?

If Yes, note that on the chart

worksheet and nothing further

is needed

If No, initiate Seven Steps

Protocol

Examine patient's personal effects for an

emergency contact number. Was an

emergency contact number found?

Note that no number was found. Try to

locate the patient's home telephone

number. Was a home number found?

Note on the chart that no contact number was

found. Look for the patient's emergency contact information

using other resources. Was the emergency

contact found?

If no contact name or number has been located for patient or if you have not been able to speak

directly to the emergency contact, send the information gathered, along with your message

to the hospital’s social service department or other department, as per the facilities’ policy. Record the information you have found, who

you are handing the information off to, the time, your name and title.

The Seven Steps Protocol is complete.

If a message was left, the staff

member records the details.

Place a call to make the notification, and record the

details on the chart. This includes the time the cal was made, the

name and phone number of that contact and any others found

(relationship, field to record result of call) Is the contact on the way

to the hospital?

If yes, this section is

complete.

Were you able to leave a message for the contact?

Yes or No

Yes or No

Yes or No

Yes or No

Yes or No

Yes or No

Did the contact arrive within two hours?

In two hours the staff member follows up to

ensure contact has arrived.

If yes, enter that fact into the chart along with the time and your initials and this is complete.

Yes or No

If the contact does NOT come in in two hours, call again to leave one more message, recording that fact on the chart page.

If you have found a second contact number, call it as

well.

In two hours the staff member follows up to

ensure contact has arrived. If contact has not arrived

note that on the chart and go to the next step.

If you can’t easily find patient’s emergency

contacts, use reference tools for alternate locations

to search

Use reference tools to find info in records from

previous hospital admissions,

patient’s doctor or insurance company.

Use reference tools to find contact info or identify patients

in unusual situations.

Seven Steps Workflow (Original)

Is patient unconscious or unable to give

informed consent for care?

Yes or No

If Yes, continue to the next step

If No, nothing further is needed

Is patient accompanied by

a family member or surrogate

decision maker?

If Yes, note that on the chart

worksheet and nothing further

is needed

If No, initiate Seven Steps

Protocol

Examine patient's personal effects for an

emergency contact number. Was an

emergency contact number found?

Note that no number was found. Try to

locate the patient's home telephone

number. Was a home number found?

Note on the chart that no contact number was

found. Look for the patient's emergency contact information

using other resources. Was the emergency

contact found?

If no contact name or number has been located for patient or if you have not been able to speak

directly to the emergency contact, send the information gathered, along with your message

to the hospital’s social service department or other department, as per the facilities’ policy. Record the information you have found, who

you are handing the information off to, the time, your name and title.

The Seven Steps Protocol is complete.

If a message was left, the staff

member records the details.

Place a call to make the notification, and record the

details on the chart. This includes the time the cal was made, the

name and phone number of that contact and any others found

(relationship, field to record result of call) Is the contact on the way

to the hospital?

If yes, this section is

complete.

Were you able to leave a message for the contact?

Yes or No

Yes or No

Yes or No

Yes or No

Yes or No

Yes or No

Did the contact arrive within two hours?

In two hours the staff member follows up to

ensure contact has arrived.

If yes, enter that fact into the chart along with the time and your initials and this is complete.

Yes or No

If the contact does NOT come in in two hours, call again to leave one more message, recording that fact on the chart page.

If you have found a second contact number, call it as

well.

In two hours the staff member follows up to

ensure contact has arrived. If contact has not arrived

note that on the chart and go to the next step.

If you can’t easily find patient’s emergency

contacts, use reference tools for alternate locations

to search

Use reference tools to find info in records from

previous hospital admissions,

patient’s doctor or insurance company.

Use reference tools to find contact info or identify patients

in unusual situations.

Create Your Own Workflow