UPMC Unit Faulted in Suicide

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Pennsylvania health official have concluded that the Sunbury Community Hospital, part of the UPMC health group, failed to follow its own policies when it allowed a suicidal patient to walk out the door without proper intervention.
The incident, which apparently ended in the patient's demise, was described in a report from the state Health Department recently made public.
According to the report a patient with a history of suicide attempts came to the 106-bed Northumberland County facility on Aug. 30 at 3:17 p.m.
UPMC officials did not respond to a request for comment.
The patient, the report states, "was at heightened risk" of self harm based on the medical record. After donning paper scrubs the patient reported back pain at 4:10 p.m. and asked for a pain pill. The patient walked out of the facility at 6:10 p.m. after requesting and getting back clothing.
The surveyors found that hospital staffers failed to notify the physician that the patient was leaving until after the deparureand there was no record of the patient being counseled about the risks of leaving against medical advice. Nor the, report states, did the record report the patient's reason for leaving.
The physician had stated that it was not safe for the patient to be left alone and had ordered checks every 15 minutes.
There was also no record of attempts to convince the patient not to leave or to give formal consent to departing against medical advice. Also absent was any record of a staff witness to the events.
The report states that a hospital employee called state police on Sept. 6 to confirm the patient's death.
The incident showed a failure for the facility to follow its own policies related to the care of patients who leave against medical advice,the report states.
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