Our Story and Credentials
It was an average day at the clinic, until a patient presented to the front desk staff, stating he needed a 5150 (psych hold). Little did we know, it would end up being the most intense encounter of our careers.
The patient was not only suicidal, but also had a plan to stab himself with a knife. He was very manic, delusional and paranoid. While the patient was being assessed by RN Haines (Danite co-founder) in the office, the patient presented a knife — waving it around and exclaiming how good he is at slicing people up, eventually putting it back in his pocket.
A message was sent out through Microsoft Teams, that he not only needed county mental health but also police intervention, since he would not give up his weapon.
In the background, RN Karwath (Danite co-founder) was receiving messages on Teams, standing by to listen for anything disconcerting, coordinating behind the scenes to notify proper higher authority (police and county mental health), and involve our security personnel.
Police arrived approximately 13 minutes after they were notified. In addition to the knife, it was found, that he had a taser and a sharp surgical instrument on his person. County mental health then evaluated him, determined a 5150 was warranted and he was taken by police for further evaluation.
Somehow it all worked out, but we asked two vital questions that week: what if, and then what?
There was no way for someone to interact with the patient AND coordinate everything that needed to be done in the background. All of our workplace violence training and programs, were not adequate for this situation. It was especially so, if the encounter had gone even one degree worse. We knew in the future we didn't want to just wing it and hope for a good outcome.
We needed a real strategy — a team response with clear roles and directives. Training equipping us in advanced de-escalation and readying us for worst-case scenarios with reflexive/defensive skills, a plan for escorting bystanders, containing the threat and switching to command and control to manage the outcome.
We got to work and developed a program to meet this need. The program had to be flexible enough for any situation. The strategy developed became the working components, and the shift in mindset became the glue.
The definitive solution became Danite.
Founders
Neil Karwath
Indiana University graduate, RN. Retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer - prominent decorations: Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (with gold star). 40 years of experience in government and nursing. Krav Maga (IDF) certified level 2. CA Peace Officer Certification (POST) with weapons endorsement.
Adam Haines
Purdue University graduate, BSN, RN. Prior Navy trauma/ER nurse (LT, USN) - prominent decorations: Navy Commendation, Navy Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon. Afghanistan deployment 09/2010, two major campaigns and Fleet Marine Force (FMF) warfare device qualified. 20 years of experience in nursing to include 9 years in mental health.