HospitalInspections.org

Based on review of patient's clinical records and interview with staff, the hospital failed to protect patient #1 from a physical assault committed by patient #2, on 2/26/11, in the Medical Intensive Care Unit.

Findings were:

On 2/26/11 patient #2 while in the Medical ICU at about 0800 waiting to be transferred to a regular room was walking around the ICU and staring into the room of patient #1. Staff redirected patient #2 not to walk by the room of patient #1 multiple times. Patient #2 was following his nurse into the room of patient #1, at approximately 1125, the nurse took him back to his room. His nurse then went to get the charge nurse who was approximately 100 feet away. As soon as his nurse turned around, patient #2 went into the room of patient #1 and proceeded to perpetrate a physical assault on patient #1. The hospital failed to take any action for over three hours to protect patient #1 from patient #2 who had been attempting entry into the room. The findings were confirmed in interview on 2/28/11 in the workroom.