HospitalInspections.org

Based on interview and record review, the hospital's registered nurses (RNs) failed to supervise and evaluate the nursing care for 1 of 1 (Patient #1) inpatient that eloped on 4/27/16.

Findings included:

Patient #1 was readmitted to the trauma unit on 4/26/16 for "s/p (status-post) exploratory laparotomy ...s/p small bowel resection, gunshot wound, abdominal..." The morning of 4/27/16 Patient #1 eloped. In an incident report dated 4/27/16 authored by a security guard indicated "...at approximately 10:30 AM ...received a call from a...police officer advising...that he found Patient #1...wearing the hospital's clothing and wearing the hospital's patient wrist band with an IV tube in his arm." The police officer requested discharge paperwork on Patient #1 so the patient can be transported out of the hospital.

Personnel #3 gave an AMA (against medical advice) documentation to the hospital's security guard. The security guard gave the documentation to the police. The police left the hospital with Patient #1.

In an interview on 6/21/16 at 11:05 AM, Personnel #3 was informed of the above findings and confirmed the findings. Personnel #3 was asked if she saw Patient #1 before he left the hospital with the police. Personnel #3 replied "no." Personnel #3 was asked if a nurse saw Patient #1 to discontinue the intravenous access prior to Patient #1's leaving the hospital with the police. Personnel #3 stated "no."