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Report: PA hospital staff at fault for patient's death

Healthcare Security Weekly, October 10, 2005

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) issued a report last week that points to the incorrect use of restraints as a partial reason for the death of a patient at Community Medical Center in Scranton, PA, reports the Citizens' Voice.

Frank Salini checked himself into the psychiatric ward of the hospital in June and died the next morning. The PDH says the hospital is to blame because staff left Salini restrained unsupervised from 11 p.m. to 6:15 a.m.

Prior to security officers restraining Salini, nurses gave him a mixture of drugs to attempt to help his disorientation, though the report says nurses gave the drugs at improper intervals and without checking his medical records.

The PDH declared an emergency suspension of physical and chemical restraints at the facility after they found the hospital improperly restrained a number of patients by leaving them restrained for too long and when unnecessary.

The hospital could face a suspension of its license, as well as a fine ranging from $500-$500,000.

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