All Entries Tagged With: "patient safety"

Man accused of murder at Napa State Hospital will go to trial

In the ongoing saga at Napa State Hospital in Napa, CA, following a nurse’s murder by a patient, a judge has ruled that Jess Willard Massey will stand trial for murder.

Massey will be on trial for the murder of nurse Donna Gross on October 23. After speaking with Napa County Sheriff’s Detective Todd Hancock, Massey admitted to the killing, saying he heard voices telling him Gross was the devil, reports the Napa Valley Register.

A hearing will take place June 14. If convicted, Massey faces life in prison without possibility of parole.

Hospital security questioned after influx of intoxicated patients

Intoxicated patients are causing hospital staff to second guess security measures at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, PA.

A study done by the Emergency Nurses Association during the summer of 2010 showed that more than 50% of emergency room nurses have experienced physical violence from intoxicated patients including being hit, spit on, shoved, or kicked.

Staff at Mount Nittany Medical Center believes unarmed security guards guarding the hospital 24/7 are not enough to keep the hospital safe, reported the Centre Daily Times. A vote was taken October 25 by the Centre Region Council of Governments regarding whether an armed police officer should be stationed at the hospital during busy weekends to monitor intoxicated patients who enter the hospital.

After going over police call statistics in healthcare facilities from previous years, the hospital found a decrease in police calls from 2007-2009. State College Police Chief Thom King told the Centre Daily Times that stationing a police officer at the hospital would cost about $94 an hour.

At this point, hospital officials are still undecided as to whether a uniformed police officer is necessary in the hospital.

How does your healthcare facility manage intoxicated patients? Does it affect security measures? Let us know in our comment section.