Faulty door blamed for death at Minnesota healthcare facility

A woman in a wheelchair tumbled down a stairway behind a door with a faulty lock


A faulty door at the Wildflower Lodge healthcare facility in Maple Grove, Minn., is being blamed for the death of a woman in a wheelchair who tumbled down a stairway, according to an article on the Star Tribune website.

For at least three years, the stairway door wouldn’t lock without extra attention, according to a state investigation. Repair orders went unfilled, even with signs on the door alerted staff to the problem.

According to findings from a state Health Department investigation, "direct care staff, maintenance staff, nurses and management were all aware that ... the door [was] not operating as intended, but no new interventions were put in place” to have it fixed.

Rather, the report read, signs were affixed to the door directing staff to “double check that door is locked before you walk away” and “wait for the click, 20-second delay for the lock to engage.”

Read the article.

 

 



August 21, 2017


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

What Does Light Daily Cleaning Miss in Patient Rooms?

Most environmental services workers still clean as if they are wiping dust off a countertop, not disrupting a living, structured community.


Smart Lighting Overhaul Boosts Efficiency, Diagnostics and Wellness at Bryan Health

Case study: LED upgrade and advanced controls across Bryan Health campuses cut lighting energy use by 57 percent while enhancing patient care and staff productivity.


AdventHealth Opens New Freestanding ER in Florida

The approximately 13,700-square-foot emergency room features 12 patient rooms, respiratory therapy services, diagnostic imaging including CT scans, X-ray and ultrasound.


Dirty Floors: How Pathogens Can Accumulate and Spread Underfoot

Studies show that healthcare floors are covered in bacteria and can quickly spread throughout patient rooms. 


WellSpan Health Opens Its Newberry Hospital in Pennsylvania

This marks the opening of its 10th hospital in the region spanning Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.