The California Department of Public Health cited St. Joseph Hospital, Eureka (Calif.) for using excessive measures to restrain patients, according to the Times Standard.
Here are four things to know:
1. The state health department issued a citation against the hospital and required it to submit a written plan of correction, according to the California Nurses Association, which initially filed a complaint against St. Joseph Hospital on behalf of several former patients.
2. State officials found that hospital staff had been resorting to excessive patient restraints too quickly and too often. Under state and federal law, hospitals may only use restraints when "less restrictive measures" are not working and must discontinue use of such restraints at the "earliest time possible," according to the report.
3. Lesley Ester, RN, chief registered nurse at St. Joseph and member of the California Nurses Association, told the Times Standard nurses at the hospital "began to be concerned when we saw a push from management to, rather than use the least restrictive measures possible, push to use restraints in a lot of situations."
4. A St. Joseph Hospital spokesperson told the publication the hospital values the state health department's feedback, but denied the institution's use of excessive patient restraints.
"It's important to note this was a single incident [from which the complaint stemmed] involving a patient with behavioral health needs and we have yet to receive a report from CDPH detailing their findings," the spokesperson said. "We do not agree with CNA's statement indicating a sitter would have been the solution in this case."
To access the full report, click here.