Disability Rights Arkansas

Perimeter Behavioral of the Ozarks / Woodridge of the Ozarks

*Photos taken by DRA staff during onsite monitoring visits. Photos reflect the most recent conditions observed by DRA staff but may not reflect the current conditions at the facility. If you are associated with a facility and have updated information or photos you would like to share, please contact DRA at rstanford@disabilityrightsar.org

Location: Springdale, AR                   Population Served: Adolescent girls ages 7-17

# of residents per unit: Up to 12 Residents per room: 2 Capacity: 32

Contact with family (Calls and visit schedule): Weekly calls up to 3x/week for 10 minutes, intervention call available 1x/week for 10 minutes. Visitation available 2x/week for 30 minutes if previously scheduled. Zoom available if in person is not possible.

Restraint utilized? Yes Chemical Restraint utilized? Yes Seclusion utilized? Yes 

Treatment Components:

Clinical Director: LCSW                    Therapists: 2 full-time therapists (1 LMSW, 1 LAC)

Treatment modalities offered: Facility declined to identify any specific modalities available.

# of individual therapy sessions/week: Varies by client, most clients receive one individual therapy session per month

# of group therapy sessions led by a licensed mental health professional/week: 3

 

DRA Monitoring/Investigations

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Police Report

Hang Up

911 open line from landline, in the background could hear someone yelling “help” a few times and then phone disconnected. No answer on call back. Officer arrived on scene; Juveniles had got a hold of the telephone, no emergency here.

PRLU or OLTC

Children's Records Review, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Chelsea Vardell.
  • Specialist conducted facility visit from 1220 – 1515. Facility CEO reported that repairs to the facility are proceeding, and the floors are being resurfaced today. Specialist completed record review for 5 clients.
  • Regs out of compliance –
    • R902.13 – Three clients missing immunization record, birth certificate & social security card. Two clients missing birth certificate & immunization record. Due date: 4/29/22.
  • TA –
    • R902.10 – Specialist provided education to staff on what information is required at the time of admission.
    • R902.12 – Specialist provided education to staff on what intake information should be gathered within ten days of admission.
  • Regs not correctable –
    • R903.4 – Client did not have a Master Treatment Plan in her chart. Client has been admitted for more than 30 days.
    • R905.17 – Restraint justification packet for client that was conducted on 11/20/21 would not be located.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • Client began to wake up peers and was able to set off a fire alarm in room 302 causing the magnetic locks to disengage and doors on the unit to open. Client then eloped from facility out the main unit door, and 2 peers eloped off green and orange units. Law enforcement was contacted to assist in finding the 3 residents.
    • On 3/25, Specialist discussed the incident with the facility and staff reported they will be discharging client who has encouraged elopements by residents at the facility.

Police Report

Assault

Officer responded after a juvenile pulled the fire alarm, allowing 3 juveniles to escape. Upon arrival, officers observed all doors unlocked, multiple juveniles yelling, and staff members running around attempting to restore order. Staff were eventually able to get the remaining juveniles into their rooms. A juvenile advised officer that J1 (who ran away) threatened to kill her, so she barricaded a door out of fear. Officers located the 3 juveniles, and J1 was transported to JDC.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Strep Symptoms)
    • Client taken to ER after exhibiting strep-like symptoms.
    • Follow-up pending; Facility will follow-up with further information after discharge.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Vomiting)
    • Client taken to ER due to vomiting multiple times. Client could not hold any fluids or medications down.
    • Specialist was at the facility on 3/23 for licensing visit and was notified of the incident by the Director of Nursing. Specialist did not receive detailed incident report until 3/26.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

  • A visit was conducted to check facility issues that were discussed the week before. All halls were cleaner than before, and no issues were found with toilets. Overall, the rooms and facility were in much better shape than last time.
  • Regs out of compliance –
    • R912.4 – Room 103 bathroom had some trash on the floor. (Due Date: 3/17/22)
    • R911.6 – Blue Hall had a dirty pile of towels on the floor walkway when walking in. A laundry bag was next to the pile. It was discussed that staff should be making sure clients put towels in bag (Due Date 3/17/22). Outlet on wall of hall was missing a cover (replaced on the spot).

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Acute Care Placement
    • Client was placed in acute care after becoming upset during an attempted elopement on 3/12/22.
    • Specialist followed up on 3/15 regarding the elopement: Staff informed specialist they were attempting to placement for client.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Attempted Elopement
    • Client set off the fire alarm in her restroom to disable the locked doors on the unit. Client, along with peer on the orange unit, ran out the exit doors to elope.
    • Staff pursued the residents and were able to reach them while still on facility grounds. Clients returned to the facility willingly. Specialist followed up on 3/15 to determine if client was ever placed in acute care.

Police Report

Disorderly Conduct

Juvenile pulled fire alarm and attempted to elope; Staff brought juvenile back, no assistance needed.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Ingested Plastic)
    • Client taken to ER after reporting she had swallowed 7 pieces of plastic and placed 4 pieces of plastic in her vagina. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

  • Buildings and grounds walkthrough conducted. The agency reported they have now hired a full-time housekeeper who is currently in orientation. Facility reported they will ensure the issues found are repaired immediately themselves instead of waiting for the owner of the building to repair them.
  • Regs out of compliance –
    • R912.4 – Restrooms were seen in poor condition with toilet paper on the floor, a used tampon on the back of the toilet, and hair all over the sinks. The toilet in Room 105 was clogged. Visible mold seen in the bottom of the shower in room 305. (Due Date: 3/9/22)
    • R911.6 – Dayroom and bedrooms in blue unit were messy with debris and used food wrappers on the floor. Dayroom and bedrooms on orange unit also in disarray. Amazon boxes seen in several rooms, and staff stated they were used by the girls for personal storage or as a trash can for their rooms. Profanity seen on the ceiling of bedroom (derogatory remarks about facility). The green unit had baseboard trim peeling from the wall in the dayroom. Water damage from a previous roof leak on the ceiling of the dayroom is currently being covered by a board (staff reported there is an order to fix the drywall). A shower still had several missing tiles (staff reported the tile replacement is the responsibility of the owner of the building they lease from; There has been an order to fix this for almost 1 year now without repair). The dining room area had baseboard trim falling off the wall (wall behind trim is rotted). (Due Date: 3/9/22)

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • Five residents eloped from facility after client used a broom to set off the fire alarm by hitting the sprinkler in her room. Local police were notified to assist.
    • Specialist was made aware of the incident while conducting a building and grounds visit at facility on 3/8/22. Specialist discussed ensuring that reports are made to the Licensing Unit by the next business day.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Accidental Injury)
    • Client taken to ER after sustaining an injury to her knee while attempting to elope from the facility.
    • Specialist discussed the event with staff on 3/8/22.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Seizure)
    • Client taken to ER after having a seizure while attempting to elope from the facility.
    • Specialist discussed the event with staff on 3/8/22.

Police Report

Alarm

Officer arrived on scene in response to a fire alarm, and was advised that juveniles set off the alarm to escape the facility.

Police Report

Disturbance

Caller (staff) advised dispatch that a juvenile entered the nurse’s station and took items to use as weapons; Caller stated they are understaffed and cannot take care of it. Caller stated a juvenile was hitting a staff member, and juveniles have said “they will beat our ass” and have tried taking keys. Caller does not believe his co-workers are safe. Caller advised that the juveniles were trying to get into the nurse’s station and carrying the base of a punching bag to use as a weapon. Caller heard that a juvenile had been stashing her pills, and a juvenile may have tried to overdose. Caller advised 3 residents escaped by hitting the fire alarm. Caller advised juvenile was having a seizure and another possibly has a broken leg but it is unknown where the juvenile is. Officers located the missing juveniles.

Police Report

Fire

Fire Department required officers on scene while they check a fire alarm and sprinklers.

Police Report

Sex Offenses

On 2/28/22, juvenile disclosed she was being touched inappropriately by an unknown male staff member. Juvenile refused to name the staff member, and later recanted the allegation. Juvenile is being discharged from the facility on 3/7/22 due to an altercation with a peer on 2/27/22. Juvenile was interviewed, in which she did not disclose abuse.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Complaint
    • Specialist was approached by 3 residents during a licensing visit who reported a feeling of being unsafe at the facility. Residents reported that 2 staff members and un unknown staff member have made comments about them in front of other residents to include that they don’t want to work with them or be around them.
    • The facility reported that they discussed the concerns with the staff and provided re-education to the staff. Due to there being no evidence to substantiate the claims made against staff, the Licensing complaint is unfounded.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

  • Buildings and grounds walkthrough conducted.
  • Regs out of compliance –
    • R911.15.f – A ripped up clothing item was found in a bedroom that had been cut, giving it a long strip that could be used as a ligature. Staff removed the threat from the room immediately.
    • R912.4 – Several restrooms in the unit bedrooms were seen in poor condition. Restrooms had hair in the sinks, discarded toilet paper on the floors and on the back of toilets. Two toilets (Rooms 204 & 301) had feces sitting in them, clogged, and inoperable. Room 301 toilet was overflowing onto the floor. Room 303 toilet had a small leak around the base with standing water. (Correction Date: 3/1/22)
    • R911.6 – Several bedrooms were in disarray. Rooms had clothing on the floor, drink containers, and multiple empty food wrappers. Staff reported the rooms are supposed to be cleaned every morning by residents and staff are supposed to ensure they are clean prior to breakfast. Staff stated they do not believe room checks were conducted for the day. Additionally, the facility reports the agency is in the process of hiring a full-time housekeeper. (Correction Date: 3/1/22)

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Accidental Injury)
    • Client slipped in the shower, injuring her right wrist. Client taken to ER. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Peer Altercation)
    • Client was in altercation with 3 other residents. Client was taken to ER.
    • Specialist visited facility on 3/1 and reviewed camera footage. The camera shows 3 residents assaulting client on the ground, but the 2 staff failed to provide the level of supervision and care necessary to ensure the safety of the client. Staff 1 resigned her position on 3/1 and Staff 2 was retrained on appropriate procedures to handle a resident altercation on 2/28 before she returned to work on the unit.

Police Report

Assault

Officer responded to facility for a physical fight in progress; Staff stated there weren’t enough of them on scene to break up the fight. Upon arrival, staff advised officer that juvenile had been attacked by 3 peers after they had been antagonizing her all night and making threats. All 3 peers were issued court dates for Battery 3rd, and juvenile was taken to the hospital (juvenile stated her head and ribs hurt, and someone bit her hand).

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment
    • A report was made to the Child Abuse Hotline regarding incident in which 2 staff members failed to protect client during an assault by peers.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted. Staff 1 resigned from her position on 3/1/22; Staff 2 was placed on leave pending results of investigation. Licensing reviewed camera footage on 3/1/22. On 3/8/22, staff stated they were unaware a maltreatment investigation was pending. Staff 2 was allowed to return to work after the incident following retraining, however, on 3/5/22 staff was placed on leave again due to unprofessional conduct. Specialist ensured the agency is aware the staff cannot return to work until the investigation is complete.