Two New Patient Neglect Cases at Minnesota Hospital

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Security Hospital has had its conditional license extended for a year after two new cases of patient mistreatment were documented.

The St. Peter mental hospital also was fined $2,000.

Reports say that authorities also found record-keeping violations related to the use of restraints and seclusion.

Minnesota Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson said in a statement Wednesday that the agency is "deeply concerned" about the incidents that prompted the conditional licensing extension.

But Jesson says her department is encouraged that the Licensing Division has acknowledged that "significant improvements" have taken place at the hospital over the past year.

The hospital is Minnesota's largest psychiatric facility with about 400 patients.

Jesson placed the hospital on a two-year conditional license in December 2011 after previous maltreatment findings.