Pembroke Hospital CEO: No Use for Panic Buttons

CEO Opines they are Prone to Technical Problems and False Alarms

Another article on Pembroke Hospital has been in the paper written by Patriot Ledger reporter Chris Burrell. 

One of the many complaints by state agencies investigating this facility is that there were no mechanisms carried by staff to summon help; no phones equipped with panic buttons or any other device to alert someone when assistance is needed.

The Ledger describes how OSHA “has armed some of the staff with walkie-talkies to call for help in a violent situation or a medical emergency.”

I might add that, from my personal observations, Pembroke Hospital lacks the security - trained or not – to provide that assistance.

So I ask: The staff is now armed with walkie-talkies, but to what end? Who could they possibly be alerting?

Return to Sender

A leading advocacy group for the mentally ill declined to accept a $10,000 donation from Arbour Health System

Arbour Health System, the parent organization of embattled Pembroke Hospital, recently donated $10,000 to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Massachusetts (NAMI) for its annual fundraising walk to be held May 14, 2016.

However, as reported by Chris Burrell in the Patriot Ledger, the Alliance returned the donation “after reading media reports about patient care and safety violations found by state regulators there and at other Arbour-owned facilities.”

NAMI Executive Director Laurie Martinelli stated in a 4/15/16 blog entry:

In light of recent events and media reports regarding Arbour Health System facilities, NAMI Mass decided to return Arbour’s 2016 Walk corporate sponsorship donation

Ms. Martinelli returned the check.

Wow. 

Ms. Martinelli clearly wants to make a difference for the mentally illness of Massachusetts. Money isn’t the answer when it is donated by an organization that can’t take care of their own patients.

Thank You Ms. Martinelli, for your integrity and steadfast mission to improving the quality of life for those with mental illness and their families.

Sheila Wilson, RN BSN MPH

President stophealthcareviolence

www.stophealthcareviolence.org 

Source:
NAMI
Patriot Ledger
The Boston Globe

Can Massachusetts Be the 34th State?

Why Massachusetts Must Pass Legislation Making Assault on Healthcare Workers a Felony

With Lobby Day approaching, as President and co-founder of Stop Healthcare Violence I was invited to describe why I filed what became House Bill #1164; legislation that would increase penalties for assault on healthcare workers from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Initially, I thought – gosh, it’s a no-brainer. 

Assaults on healthcare workers has become a crisis of epidemic proportions – and one that is figuratively and literally screaming for more rigorous anti-assault laws.

And it is not simply a handful of individuals believing this to be true; 33 states have recognized the need for tougher laws, and have passed felony legislation.

However, it then occurred to me that some may not see the issue as so crystal clear. So please allow me to explain the critical need for this felony legislation.

Fourteen Days

Time goes by very quickly for some of us. I realized it has been over a week since the last news of Pembroke Hospital.

In fact, it has been two weeks. Fourteen days have passed since the last news item covering Pembroke Hospital was posted.

But what does that mean? Is it a good sign, or a bad one? I don’t know.

Anyone reading the coverage by reporter Chris Burrell of the Patriot Ledger must realize Pembroke psychiatric hospital was being watched not by only one agency but five agencies, and these agencies were going to suggest what was wrong and the for-profit psychiatric facility administration was to fix it or else.

Utah Joins the Club

Utah becomes the 33rd state to enact felony law for assaulting healthcare workers; in Massachusetts it remains a misdemeanor

Congratulations to Utah Governor Gary Herbert and Utah Senator Brian E Shiozawa, MD on becoming the 33rd state to increase penalties for acts of violence against emergency medical care providers.

And Then There Were Four

Three Other Arbour Facilities Now Target of Investigations 

On April 9, 2016, Chris Burrell of the Patriot Ledger reported more on the problems and violations discovered at psych facility Pembroke Hospital, owned by Arbour Health System.

However, I didn’t expect that three additional Arbour psychiatric facilities have also become the target of investigations.

Along with Pembroke Hospital, Arbour facilities Westwood Lodge, Arbour Hospital in Jamaica Plain, and The Quincy Center have all been ordered to “take immediate steps to correct ‘urgent patient care and life safety violations.’”

Easter Night Surprise at Pembroke Hospital

Another surprise inspection yet still no changes

The Department of Mental Health made a surprise visit on Sunday night (Easter night, 3/27/16) to Pembroke Hospital. No report has been made on the results of this visit.

The Department of Mental health will “make unannounced visits across all shifts and days until improvements have been made to protect worker and patient safety,” according to Quincy’s Patriot Ledger.