UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital – Code Gray Response Team

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital implemented a Code Gray Response Team (CGRT) as a component of the hospital’s workplace violence prevention (WPV) program. The CGRT assists in the de-escalation of patients and visitors in crisis situations thus minimizing patient, visitor, and employee exposure to potentially violent and/or aggressive incidents.

The CGRT team consists of representatives from behavioral health, social work, security, and nursing as well as providers – the team is activated by calling a “code gray” overhead. A code gray may be called if patients or visitors are using loud, profane, or aggressive language – with or without threats of violence – or if an employee feels threatened or is being threatened with physical violence. The CGRT will respond to evaluate the situation and address real-time events with high potential of escalation, aggression, or violence using community-based behavioral health interventions.

Some successes and achievements of the CGRT include:

• Implementation of enhanced workplace violence training to include Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training to all emergency departments system wide.
• Creation of a post-code gray huddle to improve communication and post event documentation.
• Increased sense of safety and support among employees.

To learn more about the CGRT program, please contact Kevin Smith at [email protected].