June 24, 2024
Ribbon chopping at San Luis Obispo County Disaster Stabilization Unit
By KAREN VELIE
A Paso Robles teen died at a San Luis Obispo County psychological well being facility in Could, although it might be hours earlier than anybody observed. After complaining for months about mismanagement on the facility, the teenager’s demise prompted 4 staff handy of their notices.
Following the deaths of a number of mentally unwell sufferers, together with Andrew Holland, in 2018 the county opened a disaster stabilization unit. The unit was alleged to “enable medical professionals to stabilize as much as 4 neighborhood members at a time who’re experiencing a critical psychological well being concern.”
SLO County outsources administration of the unit to Sierra Psychological Wellness Group, which has refused to debate allegations of misconduct and the teenager’s demise. A handful of present and former staff of the unit spoke with a CalCoastNews reporter. They requested that their manes not be listed within the article to guard their employment.
In Nov. 2023, an worker on the unit requested her supervisor why they had been admitting individuals who didn’t qualify to remain on the unit due to quite a lot of causes. Just a few days later, administration eliminated insurance policies and procedures from the coverage and process binder.
Even so, an worker continued to randomly examine to ensure the battery for the defibrillator was working. Earlier this 12 months, the worker found the battery was lifeless and knowledgeable a supervisor who allegedly chastised the worker for checking the gadget.
Even so, a brand new battery was ordered although it was not taken out of the field.
On Could 15, emergency medical personnel transported 19-year-old Elina Branco of Paso Robles to French Hospital Medical Middle due to a drug overdose. On the hospital, medical personnel gave the teenager a number of doses of Narcan.
Twelve hours later, at 1 p.m., medical employees transported the teenager to the SLO County Disaster Stabilization Unit.
Regardless that employees members voiced issues over the teenager’s admission to the unit due to her medical points, a supervisor allegedly mentioned she would sleep it off and that they might examine on her within the morning. The 2 day shift staff arrived at 7:30 a.m. the subsequent morning.
At 9 a.m., an worker observed the teenager was not respiration and that her physique was chilly. The worker known as for the defibrillator, however the battery was lifeless. The teenager didn’t survive.
“She would nonetheless be alive if not admitted to the disaster stabilization unit,” an worker mentioned. “It’s so dangerous the purchasers are at risk. There aren’t any insurance policies and procedures to evaluate.”
Previous to the teenager’s demise, employees was required to do a examine on sufferers each two hours by way of the unit’s video monitoring system, in accordance with staff. Because the teen’s demise, employees now does in-person checks each quarter-hour.
Shortly after the ability first opened in 2018, staff started complaining of mismanagement and failures to observe the regulation.
For instance, the unit is a 24-hour facility, and is barely permitted to maintain sufferers for as much as 72 hours beneath restricted circumstances, a requirement employees says is incessantly ignored.
“Its all about maintaining folks in there, all concerning the numbers,” an worker mentioned. “It’s a psychological well being facility, although they permit folks with critical bodily well being points.”
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Division is at present investigating the demise.
Please name reporter Karen Velie at (805) 234-1703 you probably have additional details about the teenager’s demise or points on the SLO County Disaster Stabilization Unit.