Patient Dies Falling from Fifth-Floor Window

Chair slammed against window multiple times shattered glass, worker says

By By Dan Hounsell


San Diego police are investigating the death of a patient who shattered a fifth-floor window at Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center in Grantville recently, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Kaiser confirmed the incident but declined to explain the surrounding circumstances.

The organization provided a brief statement but no additional information on what part of the hospital is on Zion’s fifth floor. A person who works there said the unit houses telemetry patients with conditions severe enough to require electronic vital sign monitoring. A chair slammed against the window multiple times was used to shatter the glass, the worker added.

Kaiser did not confirm those details and did not indicate why hospital employees working on the unit were unable to stop the patient before the glass broke or whether the patient was being monitored by an in-person observer or with a closed-circuit video surveillance camera. 



April 6, 2021


Topic Area: Security


Recent Posts

Redefining What Mental Health Facilities Look Like

A new Mental Health and Addictions Center uses design and architecture to challenge the stigma and create a more open model of care.


Managing High-Volume Laundry Operations 

Tips and tricks one director has learned in three decades of managing a large, high-volume laundry operation.


University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Falls Victim to Vendor Data Breach

A health information network named “Health Gorilla” improperly accessed medical records available through the national network used to exchange medical information.


Optimizing the Engineering Design of Ambulatory Care Facilities

Designing cost-effective engineering systems is not about minimizing investment but about investing strategically.


Construction Completed on Washington Health Urgent Care Facility in California

The design team maximized the existing footprint to accommodate five exam rooms, a dedicated procedure room and an X-ray room.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.