Who do I report misuse of restraint and seclusion to?

I just got out of the hospital on Thursday and one thing I vowed to do when I got out was have the hospital investigated for poor use of restraint and seclusion. Not to get them in trouble, but because a lot of people suffered from it.

I myself was locked in a seclusion room for 4 straight days after a suicide attempt and another 2 locked in my room. Then I was placed back in the seclusion room, because I threw crayons and a journal on the floor for another 30 hours, before I demanded to talk to a patient advocate and I was released, immediately.

I also saw a woman, who was clearly very catatonic, being put on "room restriction", because she annoyed other patients and staff. She was essentially locked in her room.

There are people, like that woman who cannot advocate for themselves. By the 30 hours, which followed the 6 days, I had gone a week without a shower and was hysterically crying and traumatized. Previous to the seclusion I had used the "quiet" room as a place to get away from all the noise, afterwords I vowed never to go near it.

I also saw it happen to another young man, who attempted to run away, while on an outside walk. He spent nearly a week in there and a day or two on room restriction.

Where would I possibly report this stuff too? I've found the laws that state.

Seclusion may only be used for the management of violent or self-destructive behavior that is an immediate threat to the patient's physical safety.

The type or technique of restraint or seclusion used must be the least restrictive intervention that will be effective to protect the patient, a staff member, or others from harm.

Must be discontinued at the earliest possible time.

Time in written orders but not longer than:
4 hours for adults; 2 hours for ages 9-17; and
1 hour for under age 9.
Total limit of 24 hours. ( after renewals)

I was also told by a nurse that because I threw crayons and a journal on the floor, that their were consequences to pay and they would keep me in there as long as they pleased. I had other staff members,(mostly younger) very upset that they kept me in there, despite the level of trauma I was enduring. It was a big battle. That obviously didn't get resolved, because it happened to others, after me.

You can't restrain and seclude for punishment!

I think in general, it was a good hospital, and a positive experience, minus that part. I just don't know if more training is in order for certain staff, or if charts need to be audited for correct seclusion techniques.

Does anyone know who I talk to? Legislatures? Smaller then that? To get it resolved. Because I think about that catatonic woman everyday and I wonder if she's still being locked in her room... it makes me very sad.

In my searching ... I did find this, seems it's been a problem in PA for a long time.... http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Sec...c%20Facilities

Do you have a lawyer? Of course you need to notify the director of the hospital, but you might wish to talk to a lawyer first, so they can request the records before they "disappear"? You might consider contacting the State Attorney for your State...they may have an online form even.

Write down all the details while they are fresh in your mind. You might also wish to talk to your T about it.

I had a bad incident one year as well. But it was with the hospital itself. I don't have a psychiatrist, but you need one for admission. With a bad hurricane coming, a psychiatrist that was working "with" my T arranged for me to go in overnight during the storm. They refused to allow me in. The security had me sleeping on the floor in the waiting room (designated corner) me with my pain etc?! Then the State Troopers came and demanded I leave (in the middle of the storm mind you) or they would arrest me. All this time both my T and the Pdoc were trying to get them on the phone---they refused to speak to either. The Pdoc ended up cancelling her relationship with that hospital altogether, and later retired due to the bad conditions in most hospitals down here. I ended up being taken to the county holding hospital, but only in the waiting room. You see, I had my service dog with me and no one wanted that. The ADA did nothing.

Anyway...good wishes on this. You won't be able to go back to that facility anyway I guess, unless there's an overhaul and that's probably not happening. It might not be worth the stress of complaining as they are novel at making the patient look, well, mentally ill.

http://dos.state.pa.us/portal/server...of_state/12405

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal...omplaint/12406
(psychology is one of the things on the list they receive complaints about.)

I found them by goggling - clinical social workers in PA

there are thousands of other options too under that search.

Hello, LydiaB. It seems the Pennsylvania Department of Health is in charge of regulating hospitals: "The Department is responsible for planning and coordinating health resources throughout the Commonwealth. It licenses and regulates a variety of health facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgical facilities and other in-patient and out-patient facilities." http://pa.gov/portal/server.pt/commu...ormation/10674

Call: 1-877-724-3258

Yah I already asked to see my records, while I was still there. I was told I had to first be discharged and then return to the hospital (which is nearly 2 hours from my home) to meet with someone then.

And don't worry I've had people be real professionals at making me look crazy before, it's nothing new to me.

But in general, I"m not asking to pull a lawsuit on them. I'm willing to sign a release of my charts if it's convenient... I just want them audited for mistakes.

On another note, I am so sorry that happened to you. That's why I fight for this kind of stuff, because people don't deserve that kind of treatment...

thanks you guys... good leads.

You can also contact the state nursing board to file complaints about nursing care. States have policies on how often restrained patients must be checked, the permissible reasons a person can be restrained, etc. and if nurses violate this, they can have their licenses suspended.