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Psychiatric patient flees hospital and damages nearby van
Healthcare Security Weekly, November 8, 2004
A psychiatric patient at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, CO, escaped on October 31 and stole a hospital vehicle that he crashed into another person's van, the Daily Sentinel reported.
The van's owner had just received an offer to sell the van. However, now the owner, who wished to remain anonymous, wants St. Mary's Hospital to reimburse her for the van. "This was gross negligence on St. Mary's part," she told the Sentinel.
St. Mary's officials apologized for the accident but insist they had no legal right to keep the patient at the hospital. They also said they haven't determined who's responsible for the damage to the woman's van.
The patient, Henry Marshall, 31, walked out of the hospital wearing a gown and lab coat. Then he stole the hospital GMC van that had the keys already located inside, the police reported.
The rear driver's side of the van was damaged, the woman said. She also requested the hospital check its security and parking procedures.
"I want answers. I want to know how this happened and get it fixed so it doesn't happen again," she said.
Marshall wasn't in a locked unit at the hospital nor did hospital officials have any authority to keep him in one, said Dan Prinster, vice president for business development for St. Mary's. Hospital officials don't know how Marshall obtained a lab coat or why the keys were left in the facility van. It's common for patients dressed in gowns to walk outside the hospital and Sunday is a slow time with fewer hospital staff members on duty, Prinster said.
The hospital's risk manager is reviewing the incident.
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