Disability Rights Arkansas

Piney Ridge Treatment Center

*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: Fayetteville, AR                   Population Served: Children and adolescents ages 7-17 with sexually maladaptive behaviors and other co-occurring psychiatric conditions.

# of residents per unit: Up to 32 Residents per room: 1, 3 or 4 Capacity: 102

Contact with family (Calls and visit schedule): Typically, bi-weekly phone calls. Visits with family are scheduled (frequency or schedule not provided).

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

Treatment Modalities:

Clinical Director: LPC's                    Therapists: 8 full-time therapists (2 LMSW, 1 LPC, 3 LAC, 2 LPC); 1 part-time/contract therapist (LAC)

Treatment modalities offered: TF-CBT, CBT and other modalities individualized for resident and needs.

# of individual therapy sessions/week: 1-2

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

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Police Report

Suicide Threat

Caller who brought juvenile to facility stated juvenile was refusing to get out of the vehicle. Juvenile threatened to kill siblings with a knife earlier in the day in Fort Smith. Juvenile was detained and transported to children’s hospital via CEMS.

Police Report

Noise Complaint

Caller (resident at apartment complex nearby) stated loud music was coming from facility area and was playing “all day yesterday and started up again at noon”. Officers responded, and no excessive noise heard in area. Officer advised caller to call back if noise continues.

PRLU or OLTC

Complaint Survey

  • Complaint #AR00028818 was substantiated, all or in part, with deficiencies cited.
  • Regs out of compliance –
    • N 128 – Failed to ensure a physical restraint did not result in injury for 1 client who received a head injury during a physical restraint.
    • N 142 – Failed to ensure an order for a physical and chemical restraint was not received at the same time and failed to ensure a physical restraint was utilized long enough to determine its effectiveness before the administration of a chemical restraint for 1 client.
    • N 147 – Failed to ensure the documented times on the Physician’s Order and the time on the ESI Report were the same for 1 client who was placed in a physical restraint.
    • N 188 – Failed to ensure all staff involved in an ESI were present at the client debriefing for 1 client.
    • N 189 – Failed to ensure all staff involved in an ESI were present at the staff debriefing for 1 client.
    • N 207 – Failed to report a serious occurrence to the appropriate agencies for 1 client who received a head injury during a physical restraint.

Police Report

Missing Person

Officers responded for a missing person complaint at approx 2:30pm. Upon arrival, staff stated juvenile jumped over the fence in the playground area and ran down the fence line towards the wooded area. Juvenile was recovered by Johnson PD at approx 7pm, and was taken back to the facility. Fayetteville PD confirmed the juvenile was back at facility.

Police Report

911 Hang Up

Dispatch received 911 hang up. Upon call back, caller stated they were attempting to contact CEMS. No emergency at this time.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • Client refused to go back inside after the unit was outside and climbed onto an awning on the sidewalk between buildings. Client then jumped on the other side of the fence and off the property. Staff followed client and the police were called. Client was returned to the facility and evaluated; No injuries reported. Client was placed on restriction and re-evaluated in hours, placed on elopement precaution, and followed up with primary therapist. No follow-up details.

Police Report

Missing Person

Juvenile left facility with staff following. Juvenile does have wounds on arm from self-harm. An hour later, caller advised juvenile was walked back to facility by staff and had scrapes but was fine and currently talking with the therapist.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • X-ray (Hand Pain)
    • Client was evaluated by the APRN after complaining of right-hand pain. X-ray ordered: No fracture or foreign body noted. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

  • X-ray (Peer Altercation)
    • Client was hit in the face by a peer; Client’s nose was swollen and bruised upon assessment. APRN was notified and an x-ray was ordered. Diagnosis: Displaced fracture of nasal bone. Client will follow-up with APRN on 8/8/22 for the next step of treatment. Peer was placed on precautions. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Complaint Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.
  • Licensing reviewed resident’s chart and nursing notes. Licensing is not prepared to leave a finding at this time.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • While outside processing with their therapist, client ran and jumped over the fence. Staff followed client, and client returned by jumping back over the fence. Client was assessed by nursing staff, and minor scrapes to legs were cleaned. Client was placed on RTU and seen by their therapist.
    • Licensing follow-up on 8/1/22: RTU – Restricted on the Unit.

Police Report

Missing Person

Juvenile left facility and said they were going home (Colorado). Juvenile was located on road by facility and was walked back by staff. Juvenile does self-harm and did cut their arm today.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment
    • Client made a claim that staff cut client’s wrist and was on precautions. DON assessed client and checked client’s skin, noting a scratch on upper arm.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted. Licensing follow-up on 8/1/22: Informed by RA that information would be provided on 8/2/22.

Police Report

Criminal Mischief

Staff advised front door was found shattered; It’s unknown if someone tried to break in or not. A rock was found in a lobby chair, no staff reported anything overnight. There is possible security footage.

PRLU or OLTC

Buildings and Grounds, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.
  • Visit conducted from 14:15 – 15:40 with Program Coordinator Chelsea Vardell. Census: 92. Partial walkthrough was conducted due to an increase in Covid-19 cases. Construction on the Annex building is still underway and expected to be completed in mid-August. No licensing concerns noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

  • X-ray (Peer Altercation)
    • Client was hit in the face with a closed fist and kicked in the nose by a peer. Client complained of nose pain; X-ray was ordered. No fractures were seen.
    • Licensing follow-up on 7/22/22: Incident report received. Staff did attempt to intervene.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation, Self-Injury

  • X-ray (Peer Altercation, Self-inflicted Injury)
    • Client had an altercation with a peer on 6/20/22 where client punched a wall and did not report pain until 7/18/22. X-ray was completed on 7/19/22: Fracture to right 5th finger. A cast was applied on 7/19/22, and follow-up appointment scheduled on 8/1/22. Client placed on no sports.
    • Licensing follow-up on 7/22/22: Inquired about nurse’s note from 6/20/22 and incident report. Copy of incident report and nurse’s note received.

Police Report

911 Open Line

Silent open line; On call back, line was picked up and immediately disconnected. Officer made contact with staff, and it was determined a student was messing with the phone.

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Not listed.
  • No site visit conducted. Licensing received notification that client and 3 other peers were taken to the nurse’s station by staff to separate them from a disturbance on the East Unit. The client refused to leave the station and was left unattended by staff for “approximately one minute”. The client was able to obtain Benadryl that was left on a cabinet and took an unknown amount (peer reported this to staff). The nurse assessed the client and called poison control. Client was then taken to the ER and administered activated charcoal, clonidine, and IV fluids for dehydration. The facility reports they have changed the locks on the nurse’s doors to ensure that only nurses can access the stations. The staff will not be able to enter a nurse’s station without a nurse present.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

  • ER Visit (Peer Altercation)
    • Residents were playing basketball when client stole the ball from a peer. Peer hit client quickly one time in the face. Client fell to the ground and would not respond to staff for a few minutes. The client was taken to the ER.
    • Licensing follow-up: Facility reports that the peer was moved to another unit and placed on assault precautions.

Police Report

Disturbance

Staff at Vantage Point advised officers that a juvenile from Piney Ridge was on the roof. Officers made contact with Piney Ridge staff, who stated the juvenile was back in the building.

PRLU or OLTC

ER Visit, Notice of Incident

  • Multiple residents were taken into the nurse’s station by staff to separate them from a conflict on the east unit. Client refused to leave the station, so staff left the client unattended for approx. 1 minute. During that time, the client’s peer reported they saw client grab Benadryl and take an unknown amount. The nurse assessed the client and contacted poison control.
    • Licensing follow-up on 7/11/22: The facility reports they have changed the locks on all nurse station doors so that only nurses can have access to the stations. This was done to prevent any future occurrences of staff using the nurses station as a place to separate residents.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

  • X-ray (Accidental Injury)
    • Client was outside playing on a water slide when the client slid shoulder first into a padded pool. Client complained of shoulder and rib pain. The physician ordered an x-ray to be completed. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Care, Notice of Incident

  • Acute Care
    • Client attempted to tie a pillowcase around their neck and refused to give it to the nurse. The pillowcase was removed, and staff were able to maintain the client’s airway the entire time. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

ER Visit, Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Abscess & Fever)
    • Client was on antibiotics for a possible abscess and fever of 102.7. The mass began to swell slightly larger, and client complained of increased pain. Client taken to the ER.
    • Licensing follow-up: Resident will be discharging so all follow up will be communicated to client’s guardian.