Patient assaults staff member at Minnesota Security Hospital

Updated: 7:06 p.m. | Posted: 3:05 p.m.

A Minnesota Security Hospital patient grabbed a security counselor by the hair, bashed her head into a brick wall and kicked her repeatedly, causing severe injuries that a union leader says could've been prevented by using restraints.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services confirmed it's investigating the Monday night assault at the secure facility for people considered dangerous to themselves and others.

Officials from American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which represents employees at the psychiatric hospital in St. Peter, said 66 staffers have been injured so far this year.

Matt Stenger, vice president of AFSCME Local 404, described the environment there as "hostile," and said injuries have increased dramatically in the few years since the use of restraints was banned under a settlement in Jensen vs. Minnesota Department of Human Services.

"When they took that away, that's when all these assaults started happening because the clientele started figuring out it didn't matter what they did — there wasn't any repercussions for it," he said. "We just had a staff (member) stabbed three weeks ago and (the patient) nearly missed a jugular."

St. Peter police handcuffed the 16-year-old patient after Monday's attack, but two counties declined to arrest him, according to the union.

According to AFSCME spokesperson Jennifer Munt, Nicollet County officials said they were unable to take the underage patient, while Carver County officials said they couldn't arrest a person with cognitive disabilities.

"We're unable to do at the hospital what law enforcement is able to do in jails," she said. "They are able to restrain people who are violent. We are unable to do that at the Security Hospital."

The hospital's protocol requires security staff to talk patients down from violent behavior. When the patient became aggressive with others, staff members took him outside to the courtyard to calm him down and that's when he grabbed the counselor, hit her head against a wall and "stomped on her head" after she fell and started seizing, Munt said.

The counselor was taken to a hospital in Mankato Monday night and was released Tuesday, according to AFSCME officials.

Munt said trying to calm patients down with a conversation is a measure that has proven unsuccessful.

"What happened last night is a demonstration of our inability to have a conversation with somebody who wants to bash our head into a brick wall," she said Tuesday.

Carol Olson, executive director of DHS' Forensic Treatment Services, said the state will take "appropriate action" to respond to the incident.

"We remain committed to a safe and secure treatment environment for employees as well as patients," Olson said in a statement, "and will carefully review this incident to determine how situations like this can be prevented in the future."

AFSCME said the 200-plus patients at the Minnesota Security Hospital require constant care. State officials and union leaders disagree on the number of staffers required. AFSCME said there are 52 vacant positions that need to be filled.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services said it intends to hire more staff, including 20 security counselors and 24 other positions such as psychologists, social workers and food staff.

"Surviving your shift often means having a coworker who's got your back," Munt said. "Nobody has got our back right now."

The union has invited Gov. Mark Dayton's Chief of Staff Jaime Tincher; Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Vernon Center; Rep. Jack Considine, DFL-Mankato; and Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL-Mankato, on a tour of the hospital next week.

The union is hoping to start a conversation about bringing mobile restraints back to protect staff, not as a punishment. Mobile restraints allow patients to move their arms but not enough to hit others, Stenger said.

"That type of stuff would've been useful in a situation like this especially with (the patient) and his history of acting out in staff assaults," Stenger said.

The Minnesota Legislature approved $56.3 million to construct new program facilities at the Security Hospital to address sightline issues and narrow hallways. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2016.