Accreditation

Massachusetts EDs straining to care for psychiatric patients

Accreditation Connection, July 23, 2007

Recent criticism of how Massachusetts ERs treat their psychiatric patients has led to a state investigation, according to the Boston Globe. Over the last 19 months, 21 complaints about 11 hospitals have surfaced.

Specific complaints include one patient whose arm was broken while staff forced him to undress and another who died while in restraints and was not properly monitored. Public health investigators found that lack of training was a component, and many hospitals said the challenge of treating patients is worsened by a lack of resources and an overwhelming number of psychiatric patients brought to the ER.

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