The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported on Thursday that it had investigated eight incidents at the hospital from Feb. 22 through June 12 in which health care workers were assaulted by violent patients.
Bergen Regional Medical Center (Google Maps)PARAMUS -- After federal authorities cited Bergen Regional Medical Center for allegedly failing to protect employees from violent patients, the county executive says he wants answers and an "action plan" from the private company that leases the county-owned hospital.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported on Thursday that it had investigated eight incidents at the hospital from Feb. 22 through June 12 in which health care workers were assaulted by violent patients. According to OSHA, Bergen Regional management failed to take adequate measures to protect workers.
Employees reported patients barricading them in rooms, threatening them, exposing them to blood-borne pathogens and biting, punching and kicking them, OSHA. In one case a nurse suffered a laceration and bruises trying to stop an attack on a patient, OSHA said.
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, who made a revamp of the hospital a priority of his campaign, said he was "alarmed" by OSHA's report.
"I have called upon the hospital's management to explain and address these violations immediately," Tedesco said. "I am scheduling a meeting with hospital management and employee representatives. I expect hospital management to present a detailed action plan to strengthen safety and security measures at the hospital to better protect both staff and patients moving forward."
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This past June, Tedesco appointed a 13-member committee to recommend what to do with the hospital once the private management company's lease expires in March 2017. As reported by The Record, Tedesco has said he wants Bergen Regional Medical Center to offer a mix of mental health services, long-term care and expanded veteran's services.
Bergen Regional management has requested an informal conference with OSHA in response to the citations. Donalee Corrieri, a spokeswoman for the hospital, previously told NJ Advance Media that Bergen Regional serves many patients with mental health and addiction issues.
"Caring for patients whose disease makes their actions unpredictable is challenging, as all healthcare workers understand," she said.
"We look forward to the OSHA conference and having the opportunity to, as has been done in the past, successfully address any concerns and thus remove/reduce the citations," she added.
Bergen Regional, which has 1,070 beds, is the largest hospital and licensed nursing home in New Jersey.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
