A Florida Hospital has been ordered to stop admitting non-emergency patients after state regulators cited the hospital for putting binding restraints on elderly and mentally disabled patients, according to the Miami Herald.

The action reportedly came after one patient died after being placed in physical restraints on the hands and legs and given several medications that could serve as chemical restraints, although a state report didn't conclude those actions led to the patient's death.

After finding problems with five patients placed in restraints, the Agency for Healthcare Administration declared the facility presented ''an immediate threat to public health and safety'' and took the highly unusual move of closing it to all admissions except those entering through the emergency room.

A Hospital spokesperson said the Aventura facility is working with investigators to resolve the issues and hoped the ban would be lifted quickly, according to the Herald article.

Federal officials from the Atlanta office of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services are reported to be entering the investigation.

The Herald story indicated that patients presented for scheduled procedures, but were turned away without explanation.