Hospitals are required to thoroughly search patients for weapons and contraband and document such searches before admitting them to locked psychiatric units. On June 17, an unnamed 32-year-old man with a history of gang involvement and mental illness wielded a steak knife and stabbed another psychiatric patient nearly a dozen times. The victim survived the incident.
A state investigation reveals hospital staff failed to document that the alleged assailant had been searched for weapons. Loretto Hospital has already submitted a correction action plan, which has been accepted by CMS. The plan includes steps to install security cameras, better document body checks and implement stricter rooming policies for more aggressive psychiatric patients.
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