{"id":272010,"date":"2025-11-05T01:12:13","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T01:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/272010\/"},"modified":"2025-11-05T01:12:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T01:12:13","slug":"state-investigators-find-multiple-violations-at-san-antonio-mental-health-treatment-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/272010\/","title":{"rendered":"State investigators find multiple violations at San Antonio mental health treatment center"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">SAN ANTONIO \u2013 A San Antonio center offering treatment for adults and children with mental health and addiction issues has been having some problems of its own.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Laurel Ridge Treatment Center has made headlines in the past, particularly after the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/local\/2024\/06\/17\/laurel-ridges-ex-ceo-accused-of-child-sex-abuse-had-criminal-history-before-hiring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/local\/2024\/06\/17\/laurel-ridges-ex-ceo-accused-of-child-sex-abuse-had-criminal-history-before-hiring\/\">arrest of its former CEO<\/a>, Jacob Cuellar, in connection with a child sex assault case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">RELATED ON KSAT.COM: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/local\/2025\/06\/11\/ex-laurel-ridge-treatment-center-ceo-faces-6-child-sex-charges-in-north-carolina-records-indicate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/local\/2025\/06\/11\/ex-laurel-ridge-treatment-center-ceo-faces-6-child-sex-charges-in-north-carolina-records-indicate\/\">Ex-Laurel Ridge Treatment Center CEO faces 6 child sex charges in North Carolina, records indicate<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Now the facility, located near Loop 1604 and Redland Road, has come under the microscope of state investigators who found a long list of violations this summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The 50-page document that KSAT 12 News obtained from the Department of Health and Human Services details items which it says, \u201cposed immediate danger to patient health and safety.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The report stated that Laurel Ridge was out of compliance due to a shortage of nurses, which caused patients to wait four to six hours to get checked in. The facility often takes in patients who are in the midst of mental health crises.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">It also noted that a patient was observed in August harming herself with razor blades she had smuggled into the facility. The report said the patient was able to use them to cut herself on two different occasions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Additionally, the report noted that patients had easy access to a nurse station where there several dangerous items within their reach. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Among other things, the report listed paper clips, staples and pens that could be used to cause injuries; a cell phone charging cable and landline cord that could be used as ligatures; and a cigarette lighter and spray can of chemicals that together could be used to make a blow torch and start a fire.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">One woman who arrived Tuesday morning to drop off clothing for a loved one told KSAT 12 News she is not surprised by the findings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThey\u2019re short staffed,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re not doing their due diligence in checking what comes in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said her loved one had spent time at Laurel Ridge on multiple occasions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cI\u2019m concerned about everybody there, not just my loved one,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Tracie Brown, though, said her experience with the center has been just the opposite, a caring and safe environment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cI have a different perspective, a more positive perspective, because they helped me,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Brown showed up at the center one day after her release to drop off shoes and clothing for other patients. She said her experience with Laurel Ridge was so positive that she wanted to give back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">During her stay at the facility, Brown said she noticed extra care was being taken to protect the safety of patients.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cYou can\u2019t have anything like this in there. They will take the string out,\u201d she said, pointing to the drawstring on her pants. \u201cYour shoes can\u2019t have shoestrings.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The state report mentioned that, on a follow-up visit at the end of September, investigators noted that most of the issues of concern had been addressed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Laurel Ridge\u2019s current CEO, Ashley Sacriste, also sent a written statement which said, in part, that her staff immediately instituted a \u201ccorrective action plan.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The full statement is below:<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cLaurel Ridge Treatment Center takes pride in providing high-quality, compassionate care to patients who come through our doors, and we take all feedback as an opportunity to improve. If an issue arises, our new leadership team quickly reviews the situation, implements positive changes and takes actions that help prevent issues from occurring in the future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cFollowing the recent survey, we immediately implemented our corrective action plan \u2013 with all items having since been addressed and corrected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cIn the last year, we have improved engagement, made a number of positive changes, and are proud to have increased our quality and patient satisfaction scores. We completed significant renovations across eight units, and most recently, we received an A+ rating from the state on our kitchens. Our highest priority at Laurel Ridge Treatment Center is, and will continue to be, the health and safety of our patients.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2025 by KSAT &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SAN ANTONIO \u2013 A San Antonio center offering treatment for adults and children with mental health and addiction&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":272011,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[3071,145424,4513,97,145426,145425,259,260],"class_list":{"0":"post-272010","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-crime","9":"tag-crime-fighters","10":"tag-drug-treatment","11":"tag-health","12":"tag-jacob-cuellar","13":"tag-laurel-ridge","14":"tag-mental-health","15":"tag-mentalhealth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272010","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=272010"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272010\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/272011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=272010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=272010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=272010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}