The safety violations occurred Nov. 26, 2014. According to the investigation report, a nurse assistant failed to lock both wheels of a patient’s wheelchair while on an outing to a movie theater and then left the patient unattended. The wheelchair rolled off the curb and the patient landed face-first on the ground. The patient, who had dementia and other chronic conditions, suffered severe injuries, including a face laceration, hip fractures and internal head bleeding, and died Dec. 10, 2014.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
According to the California Department of Public Health, $100,000 is the maximum fine state regulators can impose under state law.
Regarding the incident, Mivic Hirose, RN, executive administrator of Laguna Honda, told the San Francisco Chronicle, “We made immediate changes to how our outings are conducted, and there have been no accidents since. We are confident that our outings are now safe.”
More articles on patient safety:
10 top patient safety issues for 2017
Patient Safety Movement calls on Congress to reject ACA repeal without replacement
EHR use improves safety, communication on blood thinner use during care transitions
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.