HospitalInspections.org

Based on a review of Patient #10's medical record, and policies and procedures, it was determined the Hospital failed to require the Valuables and Assistive Devices policy was implemented for Patient #10.

Findings include:

The hospital's policy # 2076, titled Valuables & Assistive Devices required: "...Purpose: Patients will not experience loss of valuables...The hospital will accept responsibility only for valuables brought to the facility which are declared and stored in the hospital safe...Valuables form will be initiated on all inpatient population and outpatients as appropriate...Initiate checklist on all inpatients admitted through the Emergency Services...Complete Section I, Valuables Disposition...and obtain patient signature to indicate if the patient declares any valuables, wishes to place items in the save (sic), or its taking item home...."

Patient #10 was admitted to the hospital from the emergency department (ED) on 04/25/10.

On 04/29/10, at 0839, a registered nurse (RN) documented that the patient's family reported the wedding, engagement and eye glasses were missing. On 04/30/10, the security department received a call to take a report in room 312 South Tower for missing personal property. The report explains the patient was transferred on 04/29/10 around 0800 hours and the family then reported the rings and eye glasses were missing. The security department checked the previous hospital rooms and areas the patient had been in prior to the transfer. The hospital's safe was checked to see if the property had been sent there. No personal items were found. An occurrence report was filed regarding the allegations of the missing personal items. According to the report the family called again on 04/30/10 around 1700 hours to check on the investigation. The Security Director called the local Police Department (PD) per family request to file a report. The PD took a report.

According to the hospital's investigation nursing did not initiate the patient's valuables checklist upon admission to the hospital according to hospital policy and procedure.