HospitalInspections.org

Based on a review of hospital policy and procedure, hospital documents, and interviews, the Department determined that the hospital failed to provide a patient the name of employees that were involved in his/her care. This deficient practice poses the potential risk of a patient being unable to verify that the unnamed is an employee of the hospital, the employee's position and responsibilities within the hospital, and can lead the patient to wrongly identify employees who were involved in his/her care.

Findings Include:

Policy titled "Bill of Rights, Patient" revealed: "...Patients have the right to know the identity of physicians, nurses, and others involved in their care...."

A document authored by Employee #27 revealed that he/she would not tell Patient #2 the name of the MRI technician but would call his/her significant other "later" with the information requested.

Employee #3 confirmed in an interview conducted on 01/10/2022, that the name of Employee #20, who performed the MRI, was not documented in Patient #2's medical record.

Based on a review of facility policy, security camera footage, and interview, the Department determined the hospital failed to ensure that physical restraints were used in compliance with an order. This deficient practice poses the potential risk of patients being restrained unnecessarily and without meeting criteria for restraint, or receiving a proper evaluation, monitoring and documentation, in addition to the patient's right to refuse care.

Findings include:

Policy titled "Use of Restraints" revealed: "...Restraint is: 1. Any physical method ...involuntarily used to restrict a person's freedom of movement, physical activity, or access to his or her body ...."

Hospital document titled "Bill of Rights, Patient" revealed: "...The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care...The patient has the right to make decisions about the plan of care...and to refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care ...."

Security camera footage was reviewed on 01/06/2022, of an incident on 08/03/2017. The footage revealed Patient #2 in a wheelchair, covered in a blanket, being wheeled to the Emergency Department entrance. At 17:40:36, Patient #2 began to attempt to get out of the wheelchair. At 17:40:46, Patient #2 was out of the wheelchair and attempting to walk away. At 17:40:48, Employee #20 had both hands around Patient #2's right arm as s/he was trying to walk away. Patient #2 pulled away from Employee #20's grasp at 17:40:49 and the patient walked away out of camera view.