Without warning, a psychiatric patient last summer struck a hospital employee in the face, landing a punch on the worker’s chin.
But how security workers, nurses and other employees at the Trinitas Adult Psychiatric Clinic responded to the assault last summer has resulted in a nearly $300,000 fine following a nine-month investigation into the patient’s abuse and medical neglect, according to state Health Department records.
One of the security officers punched the patient four times in the side of the head while the patient was restrained by two other employees, according to the penalty letter and the inspection report from the July 18 incident. The security officer appeared to be holding a walkie talkie radio while the assault took place, according to the report that is based on a video recording of the incident…