CNA arrested on patient abuse charges at Zambarano Hospital

March 22, 2016 5:02 pm

By News Staff

Rhode Island State Police arrested 40-year-old Lynda Proietti of Danielson, Connecticut, for the alleged abuse of two disabled residents of the Eleanor Slater Hospital/ Zambarano Unit in Burrillville.

Proietti, a Certified Nursing Assistant, was arrested Tuesday. She was placed on paid leave in January along with another nursing assistant, Lyn Latondresse.

State Police did not say whether Latondresse is facing charges but she remains on paid administrative leave.

State Police investigated the claims brought forward by hospital officials. They found a common pattern of alleged reckless physical and verbal abuse by Proietti towards two residents at the hospital. Police say Proietti’s colleagues are the ones who witnessed the alleged abuse towards two patients – one with dementia and one with a traumatic brain injury – and reported it immediately.

Proietti was arraigned at State Police headquarters on one felony count of Abuse in a Health Care Facility and two misdemeanor counts of Abuse in a Health Care Facility. She was released on $2,000.00 personal recognizance until her pre-arraignment conference in June.

BHDDH Director Maria Montanaro released the following statement Wednesday:

We will not stand for abuse of any kind in any of our facilities. We took immediate action in January as soon as we learned of allegations of potential abuse at Zambarano hospital. We launched an internal investigation. We moved swiftly to place employees on administrative leave. We immediately notified State Police and they quickly launched their own investigation. The charges announced today are disturbing. BHDDH and hospital leadership will continue to cooperate with RISP on this investigation. We will also redouble our own efforts to ensure that this never happens again in one of our hospitals

Health and Human Secretary Elizabeth Roberts released a statement reading:

We care for the most vulnerable Rhode Islanders at our state hospital. The allegations of abuse at Zambarano are unacceptable, and will never be tolerated. We took swift action to alert State Police of potential abuse in January. We inherited a hospital system that had been neglected for too long, but there is no excuse for this type of behavior. We will continue to support RISP in their ongoing investigation.

Zambarano Hospital treats about 120 long-term patients who suffer from chronic medical and psychiatric conditions. It’s run by the state Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals.