HospitalInspections.org

Based on interview and documentation review it was determined the Hospital failed to ensure appropriate restraint techniques were utilized during restraint of patients.


Findings included:

The Hospital policy that address the use of restraints was reviewed. The Policy stated mechanical restraints used at the Hospital include, from least to most restrictive: Four bed side rails, Canopy bed, Elbow immobilizers/Welcome sleeves, Handmitts, Wrist(s) restraints Vest, Four point soft restraint, Four point restraint using Twice as Tuff Restraint and security assisted.

Public Safety Supervisor #1 was interviewed in person on 7/6/10 at 8:25 AM. He/She said the Patient was kicking and swinging as the Public Safety officers were attempting to get the Patient onto a stretcher and apply 4 point restraint. He/She said I instructed the officers involved in the restraint effort to utilize handcuffs to get control of the Patient and get him/her onto the stretcher. Public Safety Supervisor #1 said whenever handcuffs were use they were removed once a patient was on the stretcher and the cloth wrist restraints were placed and the restraint ties attached to the stretcher. He/she said if a patient was very violent and required restraints applied, handcuffs would have to be use for the Patient's own safety.

Public Safety Supervisor #2 was interviewed in person on 7/6/10 at 10:30 AM. He/She said handcuffs were utilized as a control technique if a patient was large and really out of control and needed to be placed into cloth wrist restraints.

Public Safety Officer #2 was interviewed in person on 7/6/10 at 10:00 AM. He/She said He/She place a handcuff on the Patient's right wrist. Once the Patient was positioned on the stretcher a cloth wrist restraint would have been placed and the handcuffs removed.

Public Safety Officer #4 was interviewed in person on 7/6/10 at 8:45 AM. He/She said handcuffs were occasionally utilized on patients during restraint efforts.