Wilkes Barre Hospital Cited in Suicide Attempt

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A patient at a Wilkes Barre hospital was able to attempt suicide even while being under a physician ordered one on one observation.
The Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center also was cited for failure to develop a care plan for a patient with a rare psychological eating disorder that led to the eating of metal objects including a screw and a battery.
According to the Aug. 6 report from the state Health Department the first patient was admitted on July 16 with a history of suicidal thoughts.
Despite a physician's order that the patient be under one-to-one observation. a review of hospital records showed repeated instances in which there was no one assigned to observe the patient.
On July 26, for instance, there was no one on observation duty from 7:30 a.m. until 10:20 p.m.
That was just two days after the patient attempted suicide by removing the elastic band from a pair of pants. The individual was found with the face turned red and purple, the report states.
"The staff failed to perform a patient assessment following an attempt to self-strangulate," the report continues.
The patient was discharged on Aug. 2.
In the second case a patient with a specific psychological eating disorder, a desire to taste and ingest metal, was not provided with a treatment plan.
"The patient verbalized a craving for swallowing metal," the report states.
According to Health Department surveyors the patient attempted to ingest a number six half inch bolt and a hearing aid battery.
In its plan of correction the hospital said staff were educated on the one-on-one monitoring requirements and patient assessments. Re-education and monitoring were also promised for developing care plans for patients with eating disorders.
Geisinger officials did not respond to questions about the two citations.
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