Mixing Patients, Inmates a Risk, Report Says
Violent jail inmates treated at County-USC Medical Center are routinely assigned beds alongside regular patients, posing a danger to the public and a serious escape risk, according to a county grand jury report released Friday.
Titled "A Disaster Waiting to Happen
Some inmates classified by jailers as escape risks have also been put in general-population wards rather than the heavily secured jail facility on the hospital's 13th floor. The result has been a succession of escape attempts, at least two of which were successful, the report said.
"The policy of mixing patients and inmates every day exposes thousands to [potential] grave bodily harm and death," the report said.
County health officials acknowledged the practice but said they were unaware of any inmate assaults on other patients or hospital staff in the open wards.
"Obviously, patient safety is our No. 1 concern in the hospital, and we believe we operate in a safe environment," said John Wallace, a spokesman for the Department of Health Services.
The report blames the problem on a lack of specialty medical services at the county jails and a shortage of nurses willing to work in the hospital's jail ward. Although the ward can accommodate up to 35 inmates, Wallace said it usually has enough nurses to treat only 18.
The problem is likely to worsen when the hospital moves to a smaller building in 18 months.
Health officials are examining ways to encourage more nurses to work in the jail ward, Wallace said. But he said the ward is unable to offer the type of specialty treatment for inmates that other wards, such as the burn and intensive care units, can provide.
"You're never going to be able to get all inmates out of the general-population wards, but we can do a better job," Wallace said.
The civil grand jury serves as a citizen watchdog panel by investigating local government agencies. It evaluates how public money is being spent, examines conditions at jails and investigates social service agencies. Although the grand jury can recommend changes, it is an advisory body with no enforcement power.
The grand jury's report offered an alarming view of the way inmates are assigned hospital beds. Because of the nursing shortage, beds always go empty in the jail ward, where about 10 sheriff's deputies are stationed to deal with combative inmates and search for weapons and drugs. The ward is locked to prevent access to visitors, telephones and contraband.
