Patient became escalated due to another patient talking about them and threw an item towards that patient, then acted like she was going to head butt staff. Staff put her arm up in order to block this, and patient is reporting that staff at this time hit them in their chest. Patient denies injury/pain. Staff denied this, as well as a witness, and said they were only blocking and did not touch. Patient eventually hit staff in the face and staff attempted to restrain patient, but due to aggressiveness and combativeness, they were not able to get her in to a full restraint. Once assaulted staff was out of classroom patient was allowed to sit on their own and processed with the nurse. Nurse noted abrasions behind the patient’s right ear, right side of the neck, and to jawline (appeared to be healing). Arkansas Maltreatment Hotline notified (not accepted). Staff to be re-educated on when they should allow another staff member to take over verbal de-escalating. Patient placed on assault/aggression precautions and will follow up with therapist.
Licensing Specialist: Jarred Parnell.
Licensing visited facility on 9/13/23 to review camera footage. The staff person whom the resident had an issue with can be seen leaving the residents space and re-entering their space to argue and further escalate the situation. The facility was advised the staff person be retrained on de-escalation practices and provide proof of the training to licensing before 9/29/2023.