Behavioral Worker Laid on Restrained Patient

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A worker at a 305-bed suburban Philadelphia behavioral hospital tackled and later laid across the upper body of a patient who by that time was already in restraints, according to a report from the state Health Department.
In a 10-page report on the Eagleville Hospital, state Health Department surveyors disclosed that they declared a state of "Immediate Jeopardy," shortly after they arrived at the facility. The declaration forced hospital administrators to come up with an immediate corrective action plan.
Acting on an unannounced complaint investigation, the surveyors reviewed hospital records, interviewed employees and reviewed video surveillance tapes to reconstruct the June 16 incident.
The same worker was observed pushing the patient at the neck and throat back down on the table. The frame-by -frame review showed the worker pushing the patient, in what surveyors described as questionable action.
Hospital officials did not respond to questions on the report.
Interviews with other Eagleville employees showed they witnessed the actions and concluded the worker's behaviour was "not consistent with safe restraint practices." One of those employees told state health surveyors said at one point the patient said,"He is choking me." Later the patient yelled," Get off my neck."
Still later the patient was observed foaming at the mouth.
The report states that the worker was first placed on leave and then terminated on July 8.
The facility filed a plan of correction which includes the placement of a monitor to observe activities in the area where patients are restrained. Eagleville also hired a consulting firm to review restraint practices.
The plan also calls for re-training the staff on correct restraint practices and setting standards on when restraints are to be halted. The facility medical manager also met personally with the 34 staff members including five of the six who were present for the June 16 incident.
Finally Eagleville administrators told the state they planned to re-design the restraint area and replace some of its equipment.
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