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MAINEGENERAL MEDICAL CENTER
PATIENT RIGHTS: RESTRAINT OR SECLUSION
Tag No.: A0178
Based on document reviews and interviews, the hospital failed to ensure the patient received a face-to-face evaluation by the provider within one (1) hour of initiating a restraint for one (1) of five (5) restrained patients (Patient 1R).
Finding:
The MaineGeneral Medical Center policy, "Restraint or Seclusion of Patients", last revised on 4/2022, states, "...The medical staff member must conduct and document a face to face evaluation within 30 minutes to 1 hour and provide a written order for the restraint and/or seclusion episode. If the face to face is not completed after 45 minutes, the Administrator on call is notified....".
On 12/7/2022 at 12:42 PM, Patient 1R's medical record was reviewed with the Nurse Director of the Emergency Department. This review revealed the following:
- On 7/25/2022 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Patient 1R was in four (4) point restraints; and
- There was no documented evidence of a face-to-face evaluation by a provider within one (1) hour of the restraint initiation.
On 12/8/2022 at 12:37 PM, this finding was confirmed by the Licensing & Accreditation Specialist.