HospitalInspections.org

Based on the hospital's "Patient Rights" information presented to patients, medical record review, and staff interview, the hospital staff failed to exercise patients' rights by responding to a patient representative's complaint and concerns over patient belongings lost during the patient's hospitalization for 1 of 2 sampled patients with lost belongings (Patient #12).

Findings include:

Review on 07/10/2014 of the hospital's "Patient Rights" information that is presented to the hospital's patients revealed "Have any concerns, complaints and grievances addressed. This will not compromise your care, treatment or services. If you have a concern, complaint or grievance, you may contact your nurse, the nursing supervisor, Customer Care Line at XXX-XXX-XXXX (Telephone) or write a letter to the Patient Experience department at XXXXX (Address). If your issues are not satisfactorily addressed while you remain hospitalized, the investigation will continue."

Closed medical record review on 07/10/2014 for Patient #12 revealed the patient was admitted to the hospital's "SBE" (Behavioral Health) unit on 03/18/2014 through 04/07/2014 with complaint of "Increased agitation at facility". Documentation from the admitting physician revealed the patient stated "I don't know why I was brought here" and the patient was described as having a history of psychosis with guardianship by her daughter. The patient was brought to the hospital after her increased agitation at the prior facility. Review of the record's "Patient Belongings Checklist" form revealed the patient had a total of five (5) pants, six (6) shirts and two (2) nightgowns inventoried by the hospital patient care staff on 03/19/2014. The review of the form also revealed that on the discharge date of 04/07/2014 at 1225, the patient was not given back one (1) pair of pants and one (1) nightgown and two (shirts). The documentation revealed the staff documented "Have all items been accounted for? No, if No explain: 1 pants, 2 shirts, 1 nightgown". The review of the form revealed that the section for "Patient signature______Family Signature_______" was left blank by the hospital's staff. The review of the medical record revealed no documentation as to what happened to the patient's clothing and belongings.

Interview on 07/10/2014 at 1350 with the hospital's behavioral health registered nurse #1 revealed the patient care staff on the unit "We try to get patient or family signatures on forms when they return belongings. I am not sure what happened to the patient's belongings that was documented as missing." The interview also revealed that the registered nurse was not sure of the procedure when a patient's belongings are missing. The interview revealed "I am not sure if we fill an occurrence report out of not. We would notify family to let them know things were missing." The interview also confirmed that the registered nurse was not sure if Patient #12's family was made aware that her belongings were missing.

Interview on 07/10/2014 at 1358 with the hospital's social worker #1 for behavioral health revealed she remembered the patient's (#12) daughter calling to let her know that some cloths were not returned and missing. The interview revealed "I Remember I was called by the daughter about missing items. I referred to ___(Unit Director Name) or I asked someone to look for items. I did not hear anything back from her and I assumed it was ok". The interview confirmed the social worker was made aware of concerns from the patient's daughter related to missing items (Clothes) and did not follow up with response to the patient's daughter.

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