HospitalInspections.org

The hospital failed 1 of 1 Patient (Patient #1) by failing to ensure he received care in a safe setting.

Findings Include

During video footage review Patient #1 is restrained and taken to the Seclusion room. During the Restraint process staff #5 and Staff #9 were to restrain Patient #1. Staff #5 restrained Patient #1 independently by going behind him and cupping his hands on his back leaving a scratch. Staff #9 eventually was apart of the restraint, but stated he released the patient due to being kicked by Patient #1. This was not visible on the camera angles.

During interview with hospital staff #13 was informed of video observation and agreed staff should be retrained as the video footage appears that the staff had two people available and did not initially use both staff to help ensure Patient safety.

Policy
The hospital Policy Patient Rights & Responsibilities dated 12/10/2019 reflected, "Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital shall respect and protect patient rights by ensuring that every individual admitted, their family/significant party and all staff are informed of the rights to which all patients are entitled, in accordance with all Federal and State Regulatory requirements."

The hospital Policy on Reporting and Investigating Abuse and Neglect, dated 12/12/2019 reflected, "All patients have the right to be free from mental, physical, sexual and verbal abuse neglect and harassment. Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital shall protect patients from real or perceived abuse, neglect or exploitation including in the suspected or known abuser is a Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital health care professional, contracted staff, visitors or other patient ...Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital mandates that, under the guidance of applicable state and federal laws, any healthcare worker having reasonable cause to believe that any person is in the state of abuse exploitation or neglect shall report the information to the appropriate regulatory agency. Pursuant to the Texas Health and Safety Code ...No supervisor, administrator or physician shall impede the reporting duties, and no person making the report shall be subject to any sanction for making the report."

The hospital Patient Care Procedures dated 01/10/14 reflected, "As Nursing services needs to consider unique regulatory and professional requirements in the design of a staffing plan, this document serves to describe the Plan for the Provision of Nursing Care ...Nursing care assignments, regardless of the reporting relationship of the nursing providing such care, shall be commensurate with the qualifications and competency of the individual and shall be designed to meet the identified nursing care needs of patients. A registered nurse shall assess nursing care needs."

The hospital Policy on Restraint and Seclusion dated 12/12/2019 reflected, "Restraint shall be used safely and only when less-restrictive means would not be effective to protect the patient. Restraint and seclusion practices shall comply with applicable statues, regulations and the standards adopted by agencies that accredit this hospital regulations and the standards adopted by agencies that accredit this hospital."

The hospital Policy on Personal Belongings and Valuables dated 12/13/2019 reflected, "Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital is to responsible for the protection and security of the personal property of persons served, including clothes."

The hospital Policy on Ethics dated 12/10/2019 reflected, "All persons who works in the facility share in the responsibility of observing a code of ethics which requires in general, the welfare of the patient to be the employee's prime concerns. This code of ethics requires truthfulness, honest and personal integrity."

The hospital Policy on Escalation of Clinical Concerns dated 5/29/2019 reflected, "Issues that indicate the need for immediate clinical intervention shall be promptly communicated to a practitioner responsible for the patient's care. Team members shall promptly escalate unresolved concerns for patient safety using established escalation guidelines."