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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL AT HOLLYWOOD
PATIENT RIGHTS: CARE IN SAFE SETTING
Tag No.: A0144
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure patient safety when the facility driver using a mobile phone device while driving when transporting patients (Patient 1 and 2) to another facility. This failure placed the patients at risk for injury after the vehicle was involved in an accident.
Findings:
Review of the patients' clinical record showed Patient 1 admitted to the facility on 11/24/18 for depression . Patient . 2 was admitted to the facility on 11/24/18 for depression and suicidal ideation.
Further review of the records indicated on 11/24/18, both patients( Patient 1 and 2) were medically cleared for transportation to another facility for psychiatric admission. The facility vehicle was later involved in an accident, after transportation staff Van Driver 1 (VD 1) drove through a red light during patients' transfer.
During an interview on 5/22/19, at 10:56 AM, with Manager of Transportation 1 (MT 1), who stated VD 1 drove through the red light.
During an interview on 9/5/19, at 10:10 AM, with Director of Transportation 1 (DT 1), who stated VD 1 got into an accident during the transport of two patients to another facility. DT 1 stated VD 1 told his supervisor he was looking down and dialing on his phone, and when he looked up and saw the red light, it was too late. MT 1 stated, "All drivers are instructed to pull off the road, into a safe area, before they can use their cell phones." MT 1 stated, "They can use the Bluetooth (wireless technology for transmitting fixed and mobile electronic device data over short distances), but cannot drive while on their cell phone."
During a review of the facility's transportation "Employee Handbook", dated 6/20/17, indicates, "If you need to use a mobile phone while you are driving a vehicle, you should find a safe and legal parking place first, and use the phone only after you are safely parked. If you have a hands-free device, you may use your hands-free device to engage in brief conversations while driving, if you feel it would be safe and prudent to do so."