Physical restraint as a means to confine persons with mental illness, dates back to the asylum era of 18th Century England. Seclusion or segregation of clients dates from 1709 when a law was passed in France to enforce the seclusion or imprisonment of the deranged or dangerous. Today, restraints are virtually unheard of in England, Scotland, and Sweden. Yet in the United States, there is dramatic variability in the frequency of use of restraint and seclusion, training for clinical staff, and the interpretation of federal guidelines.

Smilex' Restraint and Seclusion Prevention Training Program (R&S) is a convenient, standardized way to document competency of clinical staff regarding the Federal Guidelines for R&S, for purposes of Institutional Accreditation (JCAHO), Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement (CMS), local institutional training certificates, and continuing education certificates for clinical professionals.