The information below comes from the statement of deficiencies compiled by health inspectors and provided to AHCJ by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It does not include the steps the hospital plans to take to fix the problem, known as a plan of correction. For that information, you should contact the hospital, your state health department or CMS. Accessing the document may require you to file a Freedom of Information Request. Information on doing so is available here.

UNITED MEDICAL CENTER 1310 SOUTHERN AVENUE SE WASHINGTON, DC 20032 July 13, 2016
VIOLATION: PATIENT RIGHTS: INFORMED CONSENT Tag No: A0131
Based on record review, policy review, and staff interviews, it was determined that nursing staff failed to ensure the patient ' s right to be free from neglect, as evidenced by staff failing to assist Patient #1, with positioning in the bed.


The findings include:


United Medical Center Hospital Policy #ADM 02-017, titled, " Patient Rights and Responsibilities, " last revised April 2014, stipulates, " ...PROVISIONS ...A. Patient Rights Include ...24. Be free from all forms of abuse ... "


United Medical Center Hospital Policy #ADM 03-033, titled, " Victims of Abuse, " last revised August 2015, stipulates, " ...POLICY ... staff must be able to recognize signs and symptoms of possible abuse/neglect ... I. Definitions...B. Neglect: Failure of a caregiver to provide basic needs of survival, care/services ... "


A. Patient #1 was admitted with diagnoses that included Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding.


On July 13, 2016 at approximately 11:50 AM, review of the facility schedule on 5 West, the Progressive Care Unit, and revealed Employee #6 was the assigned nurse for Patient #1 on June 18, 2016 on the day shift; Employee #4 was the Charge Nurse on that day; and Employee #7 was the Medical-Surgical technician.


On July 13, 2016 at approximately 2:20 PM, further review of the nursing flowsheet dated June 18, 2016 at 1:28 PM and 8:19 PM revealed Patient #1 required assistance with activities of daily living and physical activity.


A telephone interview was conducted on July 14, 2016 at approximately 11:25 AM with Employee #6, who was assigned to care for Patient #1 on June 18, 2016. When queried regarding his/her knowledge of the interaction between Patient #1and Employee #7, during the work shift, Employee #6 explained that s/he was the nurse caring for Patient #1 on June 18, 2016, when the patient ' s daughter complained that Employee #7 refused to assist the patient with positioning. S/he spoke to Employee #6 about the occurrence, reported the incident to the charge nurse, and provided the patient ' s daughter with Employee #3 ' s (Nurse Manager) number, as requested.


On July 13, 2016 at approximately 11:40 AM, a face to face interview was conducted with Employee #4, regarding his/her knowledge of the interaction between Patient #1and Employee #7. Employee #4 explained that s/he was the charge nurse on June 18, 2016, when Employee #6 informed him/her that Patient #1 did not want Employee #4 as his/her " tech " (medical-surgical technician) because s/he refused to help him/her, when s/he asked to be pulled up in the bed; and s/he didn ' t like the way Employee #7 spoke to him/her. Employee #4 continued explaining that the patient ' s daughter came to him/her complaining about Employee #7. S/he followed the daughter into the patient ' s room, where s/he was informed by the patient that Employee #7 said s/he couldn ' t pull the patient up in bed and did not assist. S/he had a discussion with Employee #7 and informed him/her that s/he could not attend to the patient. Employee #7 explained that s/he did everything the patient asked of him/her. Employee #4 changed Employee #7 ' s assignment and notified Employee #3 of the incident.


On July 13, 2016 at approximately 10:00 AM, a face to face interview was conducted with Employee #3, regarding his/her knowledge of the interaction between Patient #1and Employee #7. Employee #3 explained that during rounds on June 20, 2016, Patient #1 informed him/her that on June 18, 2016, s/he asked Employee #7 to pull him/her up in bed, and Employee #7 responded, " Can ' t nobody move you. I can ' t be standing around and s/he didn ' t move me. " Employee #3 discussed the situation with Employee #7, who admitted that s/he did not assist the patient or get assistance. Employee #3 stated that s/he had a discussion with Employee #7 and shared that when a patient asks for assistance, that s/he ' s supposed to assist.


On July 13, 2016 at approximately 10:40 AM, a face to face interview was conducted with Employee #7, regarding his/her interaction with Patient #1 on June 18, 2016. Employee #7 explained that s/he was assisting a patient in the room with Patient #1, when Patient #1 asked him/her to adjust some pillows. " I adjusted the pillows and asked if there is anything else I can do before I leave; and s/he asked, why did I have to say it that way? I didn ' t say anything else. "


Employee #7 denied that Patient #1 asked for assistance to be pulled up in the bed. When asked if Patient #1 asked him/her to do something and s/he did not do it, Employee #7 responded, " Not to my knowledge. " Employee #7 admitted that Employee #4 suggested that s/he not go back into the room; however, Employee #7 denied having knowledge of the reason s/he was asked not to enter the patient ' s room. Employee #7 shared that s/he spoke with Employee #3 about being asked not to enter the patient ' s room, but denies that more information was shared with him, regarding the situation.


There was no evidence that Employee #7 provided requested care and services to ensure Patient #1 was free from neglect.


Employees #2 and 3 acknowledged the findings.