The allegedly overaggressive hospital security tactics at North Carolina's Cape Fear Valley Medical Center could place its Medicare status at risk. A patient died after security guards placed a schizophrenic patient in a choke hold, reports the Fayetteville Observer.
In April, the patient, Andre Walker, presented in the emergency room with signs of paranoia. While waiting, Walker became aggressive, and security guards restrained the patient, according to the lawsuit that Valerie Walker, the mother of the deceased patient, filed in September. Hospital workers also were slow to resuscitate him, according to the lawsuit.
The Department of Health & Human Services put the Cape Fear Valley on immediate jeopardy status to investigate the events. The hospital has until Nov. 13 to resolve any deficiencies or risk losing Medicare funding, according to the Observer.
Cape Fear Valley Health System officials said they are "committed to the safety of all patients, visitors and staff."
They also said, "We are just as confident that the State Survey agency will agree when they complete their full survey. We continue to validate our care processes, making sure our policies and processes are aligned with best practice," according to the article.
The Joint Commission last year issued a Sentinel Event Alert, warning hospitals of growing violence. The Alert recommended hospitals take extra security precautions in the emergency department, as well as train appropriate staff members in how to respond to agitated, potentially violent patients or family members.
For more information:
- read the Fay Observer article
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