Prisma Health employee dies after mental patient strikes groin

SUMTER, S.C. (WIS) -A Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital employee is dead after a patient altercation in late May.

Sumter County Coroner Robert Baker Jr. confirmed to WIS, 40-year-old Kevin Robinson died on May 31, 2022 after an altercation with a patient days earlier.

Baker said on May 27, a female patient who was committed to the hospital with “mental and emotional” issues struck Robinson in the groin.

Baker said Robinson collapsed, went into cardiac arrest, and was hospitalized in the ICU until he died. An autopsy was performed on June 3.

The coroner ruled the death as a homicide related to physiological stress associated with physical altercation in the setting of cardiomegaly and obesity

The coroner confirmed Robinson was an employee at the hospital.

The Sumter Police Department sent a statement reading:

A patient, who injured hospital staff as they attempted to prevent her from leaving, faces charges.

Imani Cox, 27, of Crowndale Drive, who was admitted to Prisma Health Tuomey for a court-ordered evaluation, was trying to leave the facility on May 27 when hospital security and staff members attempted to detain her.

Information gathered in the investigation indicates Cox was aggressive and began to fight with employees, striking at least two of them.

A mental health technician, Kevin Robinson, 40, of Washington Street, was struck in the groin area before he got sick and became unresponsive.

Robinson died a few days later. An investigation is continuing. Results of an autopsy performed Friday are pending. Cox was transferred to a Columbia-area hospital, where she was treated.

Following her release, Cox was charged with assault and battery-2nd degree and booked at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

The detention center confirmed Cox is still in their custody. Sumter County court records show she’s been granted a $7,500 surety bond but has not posted it.

The Sumter PD have confirmed that Cox’s charges are now upgraded from assault and battery to involuntary manslaughter.

WIS contacted Prisma Health for a statement, they said on the death of Robinson,

“He worked for us for 11 years and was well loved by his team members.”

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to our team member’s loved ones and to our Tuomey hospital family who share his loss.”

Attempts to contact Robinson’s family were unsuccessful.

Jean Meyer-Prisma Health’s Senior Vice President of Acute Care Operations released a statement about the incident that left Robinson dead:

We are sad to be here today to acknowledge that we lost one of our team members, a Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital Emergency Department team member, following a workplace violence incident. He worked for us for 11 years and was well loved by his team members.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to our team member’s loved ones and to our Tuomey Hospital family who share this loss.
As a health care provider, we cannot talk about the incident based on federal patient privacy laws.
Local law enforcement is investigating and Prisma Health is cooperating with their investigation.
Tragically, we are seeing an increase in aggression and violence across the nation, in settings such as shopping malls, airplanes, schools and healthcare facilities.
Prisma Health has Security on hospital campuses and an active workplace violence task force that is examining how to balance compassionate care with protecting our team members, patients and visitors.
Annual training for workplace violence situations is offered for team members.
We also are continually updating our strategies based on national best practices.
A thorough internal investigation related to this incident has already begun, and with the goal of learning ways to prevent other incidents from happening. We are grieved to experience violence at our hospital, which is a place intended for healing.
Prisma Health is committed to working every day to provide a safe, violence-free workplace for all team members and the patients in our care.
Jean Meyer-Prisma health’s Senior Vice President of Acute Care Operations

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