How does your hospital deal with patient valuables/money??

Published

I just admitted a patient last night and he says he had $200 more than we found in his wallet. Of course he immediately claimed we'd stolen it and said he'd sue us. We located over $1,400 but he claims more was there. Luckily there were 3 of us there when we discovered this large amount of cash and we can back each other up. This isn't the first time I've had issues and problems dealing with patient money.

I was just wondering what other hospitals do when patients come in with large sums of money or what they claim is valuable jewelry. We use descriptive terms such as "gold color ring with white stone", etc. for jewelry because we don't know if it's real or not. Could be fake for all we know. We are not jewelers after all.

Thanks for your input!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We routinely have two staff members count the money in front of the patient on admission. There is a form that lists all the belongings and money the patient comes in with and a staff member and the patient sign it. Each unit has a safe and the money goes in there. When possible we try to get family members to take any valuables including cash, hom but that isn't always feasible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health Care.
We routinely have two staff members count the money in front of the patient on admission. There is a form that lists all the belongings and money the patient comes in with and a staff member and the patient sign it. Each unit has a safe and the money goes in there. When possible we try to get family members to take any valuables including cash, hom but that isn't always feasible.

:yeahthat: We do it the same way.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Security has a form and they will come up to the floor, take the valuables and have the patient sign off on what it was and that it was secured. Then 2 claim tickets (if memory serves) are left. One with the patient and one in the chart. If requested to bring up valuables security must have claim ticket checked in front of patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

We have security come up and count it in front of patient and RN if possible...if patient is unconcious then 2 RN's. Lock it up with them. We had a pt not long ago come to us with an insane amount of money...like I could have lived off that for my life money, actually it was in custody of an airline...and that is where it stayed...no way we were touching that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU.

Yeah, and I'm sure this guy was just walking around minding his own business with $1400 in his pocket.

We always have security come and count the money in front of the patient and lock it up. Sometimes, that's not our priority, like with GSWs and what not, so obviously we are not overly concerned with what's in their wallet when they are bleeding out. That's where the problem lies... patient says you took the money when they weren't looking, etc. Fortunately, most of the times we had traumas in the ER, the police were also there and would back us up if a problem ever arose. I wonder what happened to the psychotic patient who woke up and realized that his pot stash was missing from his rectum... hehe.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.
Yeah, and I'm sure this guy was just walking around minding his own business with $1400 in his pocket.

.

I guess I am not getting this point...I have on occasion had that much money on me...so if I were in an accident or got really sick during that time, would that automaticly make me a drug dealer or a prostitute or something else...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU.
I guess I am not getting this point...I have on occasion had that much money on me...so if I were in an accident or got really sick during that time, would that automaticly make me a drug dealer or a prostitute or something else...

Really? I guess I've just never seen a "normal" person admitted with that much cash on them. Just personal experience. Guess I made an over generalization. Sorry! I once won $800 at the casino and I couldn't get to the bank fast enough :wink2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

Hey where I am located we get tons of travelers...my hospital is like 1/2 a mile from a huge airport so we see weird stuff too...I am just saying some people that are "normal" do not use banks and all that...no biggie.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

when we first find out there is anythin over 20 dollars we don't touch it. Then we call security and the nurse and security and a family member, if the patient is incapacitated and we count it and put all of the valuables into a envelope that has a stub of some kind that is to be split one goes in the chart and the other goes to the patient /familymember We don't allow the family to take anything that belongs to the patient. We once got really burned when the family member stole everything that be longed to the patient. If they have POA then that is different.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health Care.
Hey where I am located we get tons of travelers...my hospital is like 1/2 a mile from a huge airport so we see weird stuff too...I am just saying some people that are "normal" do not use banks and all that...no biggie.

I agree. I consider myself normal. Since Iowa has done away with issuing travelers checks, I often have to bring large sums of cash to cover the expenses of my family of 5 on vacations. We pay cab fares, currency exchange, gifts, food, tips, tolls etc. We don't always like filling up our credit cards and lots of places don't accept out of town checks. Hopefully I won't end up in an accident on vaca, I'd hate to think the nurses were judging my sanity or law abiding based on how much cash I have in my wallet.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

We try our very best to have a family member take all valuables, purses, jewelry etc home with them. If not, we inventory the items in front of the patient or their family member, list those items and place everything in the envelope, two staff members sign along with the patient and/or family member. If they are unable to sign, we still have two people sign. The receipt is attached to the discharge instruction sheet and the envelope goes down to the safe. If someone has a very large amount of money, we really try to find someone to take it.

If the patient refuses to have their items locked up and insist on keeping them, we make a list of these items on our admit record and note that the patient has refused to have them locked up. Although it is not required, I note that the patient is refusing and have the patient sign so that I have a record of the refusal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion