BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The state inspector general says Louisiana needs to revamp its procedures for the reporting of alleged patient abuse cases in the wake of employee arrests at a Pineville center for the developmentally disabled.
Inspector General Stephen Street Jr. said the state should allow employees to bypass supervisors and report suspected abuse cases directly to the state Bureau of Protective Services.
He also said more emphasis should be placed on reporting potential abuse and unexplained injuries in employee training sessions.
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine, who sought Street’s review, said Tuesday corrective steps will begin immediately.
Five Pinecrest employees were arrested in October on a total of 40 charges in connection with cruelty to developmentally disabled patients. Some of the charges involve intimidation of witnesses.
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