Seattle Children’s Code Purple Will Be Replaced With a New System

Seattle Children’s began work last fall to replace Code Purple (a code meant to initiate a de-escalation response when all other interventions to manage behaviors that put people at risk for injury or harm have been unsuccessful).

Replacing Code Purple was critical because it has routinely been used inequitably on Black and African American patients and families.

The new system, called Adaptive Social Response, was created in partnership with families, community leaders and workforce members. Adaptive Social Response provides support tailored for the specific need of a patient, family member or care team member, including specialized support to address issues of equity or discrimination. There is also a pathway specific to addressing violence/threat of violence.

Adaptive Social Response will be launched at the hospital campus and Springbrook Professional Center in early January 2023. Code Purple will no longer be used from that point onward.

Providers looking for more information about the changes to Code Purple at Seattle Children’s may contact behavioralresponse@seattlechildrens.org.