Prone Restraints in Colorado DHS Facilities to Be Banned UPDATED

By on 3-08-2012 in Child Welfare Reform, Colorado, Restraints

Prone Restraints in Colorado DHS Facilities to Be Banned UPDATED

Prone restraints, in which a person can suffocate, have killed adoptees and nonadoptees alike. Now, Colorado is seeking to ban the type of restraint where the patient is strapped face down on a wooden board causing suffocation.


“The Colorado State Board of Human Services is one step closer to changing policy that would eliminate the use of prone restraint at all facilities under the Colorado Department of Human Services.The change comes after a CALL7 Investigation into the use of the devices where an individual is strapped face down on a wooden board, usually when they are out of control.CALL7 Investigators obtained an internal video showing Pueblo state hospital officials forcing a patient onto a table, strapping him down as he struggles and suffocates, and then taking several minutes to unstrap him and attempt to provide medical care.”

“The video showed Troy Geske recoiling as attendants bring him into the isolation room. After Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo staff strap him down, Geske tries to lift himself to breathe but eventually collapses and dies.After the investigation the use of the device was banned at some facilities run by DHS, this would ban its use at all facilities, including child care, psychiatric facilities and developmental disability centers.Reggie Bicha, executive director of DHS, told board members Friday morning that there has been more than one incident where someone died while under this type of restraint.”It is not only physically dangerous, but also it also re-traumatizes the patient where they can’t breathe,” Bicha said.After learning about the CALL7 investigation into the prone restraint use, Bicha made a commitment to end the use at all facilities under DHS control.”It has been a long process and inclusive process Mr. Bicha committed to … and he’s following through,” said Liz McDonough, spokeswoman with DHS.While the policy change would ban the use as a restraint, it still can be used as a “transitional tool” to calm down individuals. McDonough told CALL7 Investigators that prone restraint could be used, but with a five minutes or less limit, but she said that may change under the final rule.Board member David Ervin had concerns about the five-minute limit. “Most of us don’t carry stop watches,” he said during the public meeting. “It’s doesn’t take five minutes for a terrible thing to happen.“If the board agrees to the new policy, it could take effect on June 1. The final draft of the policy change still needs approval of the board, which should happen at the next board meeting on April 6. ”

Restraint Linked To Deaths Could Soon Be Banned
[The Denver Channel 3/2/12 by Tak Landrock]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

 

Update: “The state Human Services board banned the use of face-down restraints in all state run facilities after a CALL7 Investigation showed the danger of the technique.
CALL7 Investigator John Ferrugia uncovered how the prone restraint technique led to the death of Troy Geske, an inmate at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo. The Call7 investigation resulted in a Pueblo county grand jury finding that the hospital staff and management were responsible for the death but did not find criminal wrongdoing.
“When we started this process I didn’t want Troy to have died in vain,” said Linda Stephens, Geske’s mother. “His life made a difference (and) his death made a difference.”
“The CALL7 Investigation obtained a video that showed Geske’s death at the hands of apparently poorly trained staff that tied him down and left him in a room as he suffocated.
But Geske’s parents credit Colorado Department of Human Services Executive Director Reggie Bicha, who was selected to head the agency that oversees the state hospital after Geske’s death, with making the change.
Bicha said it was past time to end the restraint across the state.
“Use of prone restraint clearly is evidenced to not only harm people but retraumatize them through this physical aggressive intervention but in the worst case scenario it takes people’s lives,” he said. “With action that the board took today, we have ended that in the State of Colorado.”
Troy Geske’s is one of four preventable deaths the ongoing Call 7 investigation has uncovered at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo in the past two years. The investigation has resulted in sweeping changes in policies and procedures as well as the hiring of a new Institute director who begins his job June 1st.
Troy Geske’s family is expected to file a wrongful death lawsuit next week.”
State Human Services Bans Use Of Face-Down Restraints
[ABC 7 4/6/12 by John Ferrugia and Art Kane]

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