A medical facility in Iowa is experiencing what some call a “crisis” after four employees were injured in a two-week period after violent outbursts from patients at the Independence Mental Health Institute.

Prior to these recent attacks a nurse was so severely beaten by a patient having a manic episode that she is still recovering eight months later. Tina Suckow was attacked last October and had to undergo hospitalization and surgery and was ultimately fired when her medical leave expired. These recent attacks include a nurse who was punched in the nose and three residential treatment workers who sustained head or neck injuries from attacks by patients. After the attack the nurse gave her two weeks’ notice but then resigned immediately after she was left to work in a sex offender unit by herself while coworkers responded to an emergency. One of the other workers who was injured is receiving workers’ compensation while undergoing treatment.

The facility serves 60 adults and children who are considered to have some of the most serious or complex psychiatric needs in Iowa. Patients have often been expelled from or denied entry into other privately-owned facilities because of medical or behavioral issues.

Employees for the Iowa Department of Human Service (DHS) are trained to avert or deescalate situations when patients become violent but unfortunately injuries do occur.

“There is a safety crisis taking place for the employees and the state of Iowa is showing no urgency to address it,” said Danny Homan, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Iowa Council 61.

Matt Highland, spokesman for the DHS, says there were four registered nurse vacancies and one residential treatment worker vacancy at the institute. He did not dispute the facts of Tina Suckow’s case but said injuries are down at the facility compared to the previous year.

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