Brandywine Cited in Suicide Attempt

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A Chester County hospital has been cited by Pennsylvania health officials for failing to report a suicide attempt by a patient waiting to be seen in the facility's emergency department.
In a report issued last week state health surveyors said the incident took place at the 171 bed Brandywine Hospital in late April.
The Coatesville hospital "failed to report an event which could seriously compromise quality assurance or patient safety."
According to the report the unnamed patient was in the emergency department waiting area when she left to go to a restroom and attempted to commit suicide by tying the strap of her purse around her neck.
The incident was not reported to the state as required, but hospital officials contended they did not need to because the patient had not yet completed the registration process and was not considered a patient.
According to the state, the facility, part of Tower Health, has not yet filed an acceptable plan of correction. Hospital and Tower officials did not respond to requests for comment.
In the same report state surveyors cited Brandywine for treating patients in hallways thus violating their privacy rights. One of the patients was actively vomiting while others were undergoing treatment or examination in open view.
The hospital also failed to notify three of six patients of their rights under the federal Medicare plan.
Brandywine was also cited a year ago for failing to report a case of suspected child abuse.
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