Lawmakers to investigate rise in assaults at Maryland's largest state psychiatric hospital

Maryland lawmakers plan to investigate a reported increase in patient-led assaults on employees at Spring Grove Hospital Center, a psychiatric hospital in Catonsville, Md., according to The Baltimore Sun.

The rise in assaults came to light earlier this month after a newspaper probe revealed a total of 68 assaults on employees occurred at the hospital from January through June this year compared to 35 attacks on staff in the final six months of 2016.

Maryland lawmakers told The Baltimore Sun two hearings are planned to investigate the increase. Lawmakers indicated issues to be addressed include lack of treatment for all mental health patients referred by courts as well as the overall ability of Maryland to provide care for mental health patients.

According to the report, five state officials, including Health Secretary Dennis Schrader, were held in contempt of court in September for not addressing the aforementioned issue at a faster pace.

John Robison, chief of psychiatric hospitals for the Maryland Department of Health, described the increase in assaults to The Baltimore Sun as "a blip in patient assault data." It "does not signal an unsafe place to work," he told the publication.

Mr. Robison said he would tell lawmakers at the hearings there is no correlation between assaults on workers and staffing levels, according to the report.

The report states Maryland has been ordered to hire more staff for Spring Grove before 2017 is over. The state is challenging the order.

 

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