Rural PA Hospital Cited for Deficiencies

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A rural Pennsylvania hospital has been cited for multiple deficiencies including failure to properly sanitize reusable medical equipment and properly dispose of outdated narcotic medications.
In a report based on a May 21-24 visit to the Susquehanna facility surveyors from the state Health Department concluded that the 83-bed Barnes-Kasson County Hospital did not meet the requirements for participation in the federally funded Medicare and Medicaid programs.
The report comes at a time when rural hospitals across the country have been forced to cut back services and even shutdown due to decreased funding.
The first item cited in the newly released report was the failure of the hospital to post a notice informing patients and visitors that there is not a doctor on duty 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
The inspectors also found that the facility did not follow proper procedures in sanitizing reusable medical equipment such as an endoscope. Test strips used to test the equipment were not dated to show when the package was opened. In addition the staffers failed to monitor and record temperatures during the sanitation process as required.
Outdated narcotics were observed at the hospital but those drugs had not been listed on a log of drugs scheduled to be disposed through an outside vendor.
In the dietary department hair of employees was not properly restrained and workers did not change gloves after touching their hair.
In the surgical department surveyors found that in three out of three operating rooms anesthesia staffers were not properly supervised.
Still other deficiencies included the failure of the quality improvement department failed to review data on falls, medication errors and problems with intravenous (IV) administration.
According to the report between Jan. 1, 2019 and May 24 there were 10 falls, 12 medication errors and 14 IV infiltrates. Infiltrates occur when medication in the IV leaks into surrounding tissue.
The hospital filed a plan of correction addressing each of the deficiencies including staff retraining and monitoring to ensure staffers are following required procedures at the hospital..
The plan also includes new signage informing patients a doctor is not always present.
Hospital officials did not respond to a request for comment.
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