HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation and staff interviews, it was determined that the hospital failed to maintain its physical environment in a manner to ensure the safety and well being of patients on the inpatient psychiatric unit E-400.

The office of Health Care Quality while conducting a complaint investigation toured the inpatient psychiatric unit E-400 at Prince George Hospital Center. The tour was facilitated by the unit manager on 7/14/10. During the tour two surveyors noted the following environmental safety concerns:

1. The dayroom where patients watch TV, read, interact with one another and eat meals has a counter area with a faucet. Below the facet was an unlocked cabinet where the surveyor found a towel and two large refrigerator crisper bins.
2. In this same dayroom next to the counter area was a refrigerator which is used to store food and drink (patient snacks). There was no thermometer or system to monitor the refrigerator temperature to ensure the snacks are stored at an appropriate temperature.
3. There were multiple bulletin boards with staples. These staples can be used by the patient to cause injury to themselves or others by scratching, cutting or swallowing.
4. There was an unanchored approximately 20" TV sitting on a shelf about 5-6 feet off the floor in a corner. This TV could be toppled over onto someone as well as thrown at someone.
5. There were breakfast trays left on top of the refrigerator that could be used as a weapon.
6. The exam room had three large metal electrical panel boxes that have pipes coming from the top of the box up into the ceiling. This is a potential area that a patient could hang or injure themselves.
7. The female tub room had no mat or skid guards to prevent the patient from slipping and falling.
8. The female shower room was also being used to store a wet-vac-machine.

Based on the above observations the hospitaql failed to ensure the safety and well being of this special needs patient population on E-400.