HospitalInspections.org

Based on record reviews and interview, the hospital failed to ensure patients were free from abuse or harassment. This deficient practice was evidenced by failing to ensure an alleged patient-to-patient sexual assault was reported immediately for 1 (#1) of 3 (#1, #2, #3) sampled patients.
Findings:

Review of the hospital Abuse and Neglect policy and procedure revealed, in part:
Policy: It is the policy of the Hospital that any staff who witnesses or suspect a patient has been abused either physically or verbally will report such abuse to the appropriate authority IMMEDIATELY. This includes patient-to-patient. This suspicion may be based upon verbal report.
Procedure:
1. Staff who witness or suspect the patient has been abused either physically or verbally will report such abuse to the Administrator on Call IMMEDIATELY after notifying the appropriate authorities. This includes patient-to-patient abuse or neglect.

Review of the hospital Required Reporting - State of Louisiana policy and procedure revealed, in part:
Procedure: I. Allegations of Abuse/Neglect.
a. Any allegations of abuse/neglect must be reported immediately to the Risk Manager or Administrator on Call (if afterhours or on weekends).

Review of Patient #1' Progress Note Psychiatry dated 11/10/2023 at 11:05 a.m. revealed, in part:
Patient moved to A unit as other patient on 1:1 was paranoid towards her and (Patient #1) is history risk of violent behavior. However on A unit patient reports that male patient touched her chest while she was showering in her room and later came back into her room and was standing over her and touching her. Patient is currently on 1:1, nursing unable to explain how this could have occurred with patient on 1:1 but did state that male patient was psychotic and was entering other patient's rooms. The male patient had been placed on 1:1, in room with tech by door monitoring closely.

Review of Patient #1's medical record revealed no evidence the 11/10/2023 alleged patient-to-patient sexual assault was immediately reported to the appropriate authority, Administrator, and Risk Manager as stated in the hospital's policies and procedures. Further review revealed the Administrator and Risk Manager were notified 11/13/2023 at approximately 10:20 a.m. after Patient #1 called the local police department.

In an interview on 11/20/2023 at 8:32 a.m., S3Director of Risk Management confirmed Patient #1's alleged patient-to-patient sexual assault on 11/10/2023 was not immediately reported on 11/10/2023 to the appropriate authority, Administrator, and Risk Manager as stated in the hospital's policies and procedures. S3Director of Risk Management confirmed that the hospital was notified on 11/13/2023 at approximately 10:20 a.m. after Patient #1 called the local police department.