A federal inspection determined patients' rights were violated at the South Dakota Human Services Center in Yankton — a state-run mental health hospital — when workers misused restraints to control potentially unruly individuals, according to the Casper Star Tribune.
The CMS report from the inspection, which began in February, states hospital employees used restraints excessively while failing to document their reasons for doing so. For instance, the investigation findings mention one patient who was kept in restraints for nearly six days, according to the report.
Tia Kafka, spokeswoman of the state Department of Social Services, said the state has addressed the problems at the mental health hospital.
"We submitted a plan of correction that was approved by CMS and have made the necessary changes," Ms. Kafka told the Tribune.
After federal officials visited the hospital again last week, State Social Services Secretary Lynne Valenti said the implementation of the changes was satisfactory.
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