By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A 116-page report concludes that state officials and managers at a state veterans home share responsibility for an outbreak of Covid-19 that took the lives of 42 residents of a state run veterans nursing home.
The report, which was commissioned by Pennsylvania Gov. Thomas Wolf, cited three crucial decisions that resulted in the deadly caronavirus spreading like wildfire through the 292 bed facility in Chester County.
Those findings include the failure of managers at the Southeastern Veterans Center to quickly end communal dining even as the outbreak was becoming apparent.
Those same managers misunderstood guidance from health officials about separating those patients who had been exposed to the virus and those who had tested negative. As a result dozens of residents who were free of the virus were needlesly exposed to the virus.
A third deficiency was the failure of the facility's management to utilize a vacant 32 bed unit to separate the infected residents from those free of the virus. Instead the vacant unit was set aside for a few employees to occasionally spend the night.
While much of the report focuses on the failures of the home's administrator, Rohan Blackwood and Director of Nursing Deborah Mullane, the report faults officials of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs(DMVA) for failing to provide adequate oversight.
"DMVA failed to exercise sufficient authority" over the Chester County facility," the report states.
In fact the panel concluded DMVA failed to provide sufficient oversight for all six state veterans homes.
And, the report continues, Blackwood and Mullane, who ultimately were fired, "managed by intimidation and dictate."
The attorney for Blackwod and Mullane issued an extensive rebuttal of the report, charging that they were being scapegoated when the blame belonged to DMVA officials.
Citing a culture of a lack of accountability both at the facility and the DMVA, the report states,"Ultimately the buck seems to have stopped nowhere."
The panel noted a lack of experience among DMVA managers in medical matters or the administration of long term care facilities.
The report praises the frontline workers at the facility for trying to perform their duties despite an openly hostile work environment and the lack of Personal Protective Equipment.
The report also cites the home management for the widespread and apparently indiscriminate use of a cointroversial drug, hydroxychloroquine, on patients diagnosed with Covid-19 or suspected of being infected.
The report states that the drug was used on patients despite warnings that it could have severe adverse effects on patients with coronary conditions. And, the report stated, the drugs were administered without proper disclosure either to the patients themselves or their families.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Monday, December 28, 2020
UPMC Ordered EMTs to Move Patient
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
An emergency department nurse at a York County hospital ordered ambulance paramedics to take back a patient they had just delivered stating that there were no available beds, according to a report from the state Health Department.
The report on the October incident at UPMC Memorial Hospital, which was just made public, states that the nurse first ordered the EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) to take back the patient and then ordered them to take the patient for a CAT scan and X-rays. The patient had been taken to the hospital after a fall at home.
The ambulance crew "was advised by hospital staff that they had no beds available to transfer the patient off the ambulance litter," the report states.
The EMTs responded by stating that the patient was now under the care of the hospital and "the transfer of care was complete."
The nurse, according to the report, then stated that "Nursing did not and will not sign a transfer."
The EMTs then transferred the patient back to their stretcher and ended up waiting an hour before the patient was finally transferred to a hospital bed.
The report notes that except in emergency situations paramedics are limited to the emergency room.
"UPMC failed to assume the care of an emergency department patient that presented via ambulance... leaving the patient in the care of EMS(Emergency Medical Services)," the report states.
In a plan of correction filed with the state in response to the inspection report UPMC implemented an action plan to "create a better experience for our EMS colleagues."improve the experience of paramedics" on their trips to the 98-bed facility.
The hospital response also indicated the charge nurse in question had her charging duties removed.
UPMC Memorial officials did not respond to a series of questions about the incident but did issue a brief statement.
"UPMC Memorial cooperated with state officials and implemented a corrective action plan to address the issues in the complaint. The plan has been reviewed and accepted by the state Department of Health," said hospital spokeswoman Kelly McCall.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
An emergency department nurse at a York County hospital ordered ambulance paramedics to take back a patient they had just delivered stating that there were no available beds, according to a report from the state Health Department.
The report on the October incident at UPMC Memorial Hospital, which was just made public, states that the nurse first ordered the EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) to take back the patient and then ordered them to take the patient for a CAT scan and X-rays. The patient had been taken to the hospital after a fall at home.
The ambulance crew "was advised by hospital staff that they had no beds available to transfer the patient off the ambulance litter," the report states.
The EMTs responded by stating that the patient was now under the care of the hospital and "the transfer of care was complete."
The nurse, according to the report, then stated that "Nursing did not and will not sign a transfer."
The EMTs then transferred the patient back to their stretcher and ended up waiting an hour before the patient was finally transferred to a hospital bed.
The report notes that except in emergency situations paramedics are limited to the emergency room.
"UPMC failed to assume the care of an emergency department patient that presented via ambulance... leaving the patient in the care of EMS(Emergency Medical Services)," the report states.
In a plan of correction filed with the state in response to the inspection report UPMC implemented an action plan to "create a better experience for our EMS colleagues."improve the experience of paramedics" on their trips to the 98-bed facility.
The hospital response also indicated the charge nurse in question had her charging duties removed.
UPMC Memorial officials did not respond to a series of questions about the incident but did issue a brief statement.
"UPMC Memorial cooperated with state officials and implemented a corrective action plan to address the issues in the complaint. The plan has been reviewed and accepted by the state Department of Health," said hospital spokeswoman Kelly McCall.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Monday, December 21, 2020
UPMC Failed to Ensure Sterility of Surgical Instrument
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A worker at a Williamsport hospital failed to adequately cleanse a surgical insrument and bacterial matter fell into a patient's surgical field while undergoing laparoscopic surgery, according to a report from the state Health Department.
The report, which was just made public, concludes that UPMC Williamsport, a 224 bed hospital, failed to ensure staff followed approved procedures for the cleansing and disinfection of surgical equipment.
According to the report a trocar which was being used in a Sept.9 laparoscopic procedure had not been properly cleaned and "bioburden fell from the distal end of the trocar into the patient's surgical field."
"The bioburden was retrieved and the surgical field was flushed," the report continues, adding that additional antibiotics were added to the patient's post operative orders.
The facility was also cited for failing to properly report the incident.
"The facility failed to document a surgical complication in the medical record," the report states, adding that the incident was not noted in the surgeon's operative or progress notes. The report states that a review of records showed there was no documentation of the disclosure of the incident to the patient on the day after the surgery.
Tyler Wagner, a hospital spokesman wrote in an email response to questions, that the hospital was cooperating with state health officials and has adopted a corrective action plan to address the issues in the complaint.
"The plan has been reviewed and accepted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health," Wagner wrote.
In the same report, state health surveyors failed to properly respond to patient grievances. in some cases the patients were not provided either an interim or final report on the findings on the complaints.
In another finding the state said records showed patients were discharged from a recovery room without written orders from a physician. Some patient records lacked required signed informed consent forms, the surveyors reported.
The hospital filed plan of correction in which it detailed steps taken to correct the errors and prevent any recurrence. Staff, according to the plan, were re-educated on the proper way to clean and sterilize surgical equipment.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A worker at a Williamsport hospital failed to adequately cleanse a surgical insrument and bacterial matter fell into a patient's surgical field while undergoing laparoscopic surgery, according to a report from the state Health Department.
The report, which was just made public, concludes that UPMC Williamsport, a 224 bed hospital, failed to ensure staff followed approved procedures for the cleansing and disinfection of surgical equipment.
According to the report a trocar which was being used in a Sept.9 laparoscopic procedure had not been properly cleaned and "bioburden fell from the distal end of the trocar into the patient's surgical field."
"The bioburden was retrieved and the surgical field was flushed," the report continues, adding that additional antibiotics were added to the patient's post operative orders.
The facility was also cited for failing to properly report the incident.
"The facility failed to document a surgical complication in the medical record," the report states, adding that the incident was not noted in the surgeon's operative or progress notes. The report states that a review of records showed there was no documentation of the disclosure of the incident to the patient on the day after the surgery.
Tyler Wagner, a hospital spokesman wrote in an email response to questions, that the hospital was cooperating with state health officials and has adopted a corrective action plan to address the issues in the complaint.
"The plan has been reviewed and accepted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health," Wagner wrote.
In the same report, state health surveyors failed to properly respond to patient grievances. in some cases the patients were not provided either an interim or final report on the findings on the complaints.
In another finding the state said records showed patients were discharged from a recovery room without written orders from a physician. Some patient records lacked required signed informed consent forms, the surveyors reported.
The hospital filed plan of correction in which it detailed steps taken to correct the errors and prevent any recurrence. Staff, according to the plan, were re-educated on the proper way to clean and sterilize surgical equipment.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Monday, December 14, 2020
Four Pittsburgh Patients Off Cardiac Monitors
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
It took six hours for staff at a Pittsburgh hospital to realize a critically ill patient was no longer on a physician-ordered continuous cardiac monitor.
Not only that there were three other such incidences at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside over a six month period, according to a report from the state Health Department, which was recently made public.
The latest incident prompted state Health officials to declare a state of "immediate jeopardy" which forced hospital officials to come up with an immediate correction plan.
Under that plan the hospital agreed to have 24/7 coverage of monitors showing the current stste of all working cardiac monitors.
"A monitor manager is located in the unit nursing station on each individual unit," the report states.
The immediate incident which triggered the state visit occurred on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26. The unnamed patient's monitor stopped functioning at 10:13 p.m. but the patient was not found unresponsive until 4:14 a.m. the next day.
The state report dated Nov. 2 states that three prior "serious events" reported at the facility over a six month period were for the same issue; patients on physician ordered cardiac monitors found unresponsive and off monitors.
None of the three patients survived," the report states.
The report does not indicate whether the October patient, who was off moitor for some six hours, survived.
In the most recent case the surveyors found that the same patient had been found with evidence of internal bleeding but staff failed to inform the physician of the change in condition.
The report faults the hospital management, including the chief executive officer, the nursing staff and the hospital's governing body for the multiple failures.
UPMC filed a plan of correction in response to the latest incident which includes staff re-education and audits. Hospital officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
It took six hours for staff at a Pittsburgh hospital to realize a critically ill patient was no longer on a physician-ordered continuous cardiac monitor.
Not only that there were three other such incidences at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside over a six month period, according to a report from the state Health Department, which was recently made public.
The latest incident prompted state Health officials to declare a state of "immediate jeopardy" which forced hospital officials to come up with an immediate correction plan.
Under that plan the hospital agreed to have 24/7 coverage of monitors showing the current stste of all working cardiac monitors.
"A monitor manager is located in the unit nursing station on each individual unit," the report states.
The immediate incident which triggered the state visit occurred on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26. The unnamed patient's monitor stopped functioning at 10:13 p.m. but the patient was not found unresponsive until 4:14 a.m. the next day.
The state report dated Nov. 2 states that three prior "serious events" reported at the facility over a six month period were for the same issue; patients on physician ordered cardiac monitors found unresponsive and off monitors.
None of the three patients survived," the report states.
The report does not indicate whether the October patient, who was off moitor for some six hours, survived.
In the most recent case the surveyors found that the same patient had been found with evidence of internal bleeding but staff failed to inform the physician of the change in condition.
The report faults the hospital management, including the chief executive officer, the nursing staff and the hospital's governing body for the multiple failures.
UPMC filed a plan of correction in response to the latest incident which includes staff re-education and audits. Hospital officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
NECC Defendant Renews Jail Release Plea
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A former pharmacist convicted of racketeering in the wake of a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak is asking once again for release from prison citing the current pandemic and an undisclosed medical condition.
In a 15-page petition filed today in U.S. District Court in Boston, Mass., the lawyer for Gene Svirskiy is asking the court to allow him to complete his 30 month sentence under home confinement.
The petition and attached exhibits show Svirskiy plans to return to work as a compounding pharmacist, the sme role he played at the New England Compounding Center, the company blamed for the deadly 2012 outbreak.
In the petition Svirskiy states that he recently uncovered medical records showing that he has a medical condition that makes him susceptible to a severe form of Covid-19. Record relating to that condition were filed under seal with the approval of U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns.
The petition alsao cites Svirsky's history of smoking and a diagnosis of asthma.
"The personl health risks to Svirskiy are real," the petition states, citing guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Svirskiy was one of 14 people connected to NECC who were indicted in late 2014 after a two year probe of the fungal meningitis outbreak which took the lives of dozens of patients and sickened hundreds of others.
He was convicted of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and violations of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act.
A prior petition for early release was denied by Stearns who said he did not have the legal authority to grant the request.
In the new petition Svirskiy argues that Stearns does have that power and the new evidence shows "extraordinary and compelling reasons" why he should be released.
Stating that Svirskiy has now exhausted all possible administrative remedies, including appeals to the warden at the prison in Central Masachusetts where he is confined, the petition calls on Stearns to grant his request.
The petition acknowledges, however, that the Covid-19 outbreak at his prison has eased, although eight staffers have tested positive for the virus.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A former pharmacist convicted of racketeering in the wake of a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak is asking once again for release from prison citing the current pandemic and an undisclosed medical condition.
In a 15-page petition filed today in U.S. District Court in Boston, Mass., the lawyer for Gene Svirskiy is asking the court to allow him to complete his 30 month sentence under home confinement.
The petition and attached exhibits show Svirskiy plans to return to work as a compounding pharmacist, the sme role he played at the New England Compounding Center, the company blamed for the deadly 2012 outbreak.
In the petition Svirskiy states that he recently uncovered medical records showing that he has a medical condition that makes him susceptible to a severe form of Covid-19. Record relating to that condition were filed under seal with the approval of U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns.
The petition alsao cites Svirsky's history of smoking and a diagnosis of asthma.
"The personl health risks to Svirskiy are real," the petition states, citing guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Svirskiy was one of 14 people connected to NECC who were indicted in late 2014 after a two year probe of the fungal meningitis outbreak which took the lives of dozens of patients and sickened hundreds of others.
He was convicted of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and violations of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act.
A prior petition for early release was denied by Stearns who said he did not have the legal authority to grant the request.
In the new petition Svirskiy argues that Stearns does have that power and the new evidence shows "extraordinary and compelling reasons" why he should be released.
Stating that Svirskiy has now exhausted all possible administrative remedies, including appeals to the warden at the prison in Central Masachusetts where he is confined, the petition calls on Stearns to grant his request.
The petition acknowledges, however, that the Covid-19 outbreak at his prison has eased, although eight staffers have tested positive for the virus.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Multiple Covid Deaths in PA State Facilities
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
At least 54 persons have died from Covid-19 in facilities run by the state of Pennsylvania and most of the deaths have come in state correctional institutions.
Data posted by Pennsylvania agencies shows deaths from the coronavirus have occurred in state hospitals, state centers for the intellectually disabled and state prisons in nearly all parts of the state.
A total of 40 deaths have been recorded in state correctional institutions with the most, 9, coming at the state prison in Laurel Highlands. Six inmates died from the virus at the prison in Dallas. Four Covid deaths were reported at the Chester facility and five at the prison in Huntingdon.
The state Corrections Department has reported that systemwide 2,849 inmates have been diagnosed with Covid-19.
At least 11 residents have died at state hospitals. Ten of those deaths were at Norristown State Hospital. At Wernersville State Hospital officials reported that less than five deaths were recorded. (Under she state's reporting system facilities with one to four deaths don't disclose the exact number).
The facility at South Mountain also reported less than five deaths.
Covid-19 cases have been reported at three of the state's youth services facilities, but there have been no deaths.
At the four state centers for those with intellectual disabilities a total of 138 residents have been diagnosed with Covid-19. At the facility in White Haven, officials reported less than five deaths.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
At least 54 persons have died from Covid-19 in facilities run by the state of Pennsylvania and most of the deaths have come in state correctional institutions.
Data posted by Pennsylvania agencies shows deaths from the coronavirus have occurred in state hospitals, state centers for the intellectually disabled and state prisons in nearly all parts of the state.
A total of 40 deaths have been recorded in state correctional institutions with the most, 9, coming at the state prison in Laurel Highlands. Six inmates died from the virus at the prison in Dallas. Four Covid deaths were reported at the Chester facility and five at the prison in Huntingdon.
The state Corrections Department has reported that systemwide 2,849 inmates have been diagnosed with Covid-19.
At least 11 residents have died at state hospitals. Ten of those deaths were at Norristown State Hospital. At Wernersville State Hospital officials reported that less than five deaths were recorded. (Under she state's reporting system facilities with one to four deaths don't disclose the exact number).
The facility at South Mountain also reported less than five deaths.
Covid-19 cases have been reported at three of the state's youth services facilities, but there have been no deaths.
At the four state centers for those with intellectual disabilities a total of 138 residents have been diagnosed with Covid-19. At the facility in White Haven, officials reported less than five deaths.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Monday, December 7, 2020
Bryn Mawr Hospital Left Patients Without Monitors
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Physician ordered cardiac monitors were not provided to five patients at the Bryn Mawr Hospital and one of the five was critically ill and in need of immediate attention, according to a state Health Department report.
The 287-bed hospital, part of Main Line Health, also failed to assign registered nurses to accompany the emergency room patients, who were awaiting further testing.
The hospital, the report states, "failed to maintain a safe environment for Emergency Department patients ordered to receive continuous cardiac monitoring."
"Continuous cardiac monitoring, no exceptions," the physician's Sept. 19 admission order stated.
"I guess I should have looked closer at the physician's admission orders," a staffer said when asked by surveyors about the lack of a monitor.
The report details the handling of the critically ill patient including the failure of staffers to respond to test results showing the patient's potassium levels were nearly double the normal level.
When state surveyors interviewed staffers involved in the case they acknowledged mistakes were made, including the failure to notify the physician about the potassium levels.
Instead they mistakenly assumed the sample had become contaminated and debated whether to do a re-test.
"In hindsight if I had this to do all over again I would have called the physician and/or the physician's assistant for a final decision about the test results," one hospital employee told the state inspectors.
Another employee told inspectors they assumed the test result was wrong because that level of potassium was "not compatible with life."
Main Line Health officials did not respond to a series of questions about the report including whether the patient survived.
Instead they issued a statement asserting that all the issues adressed in the report had been adressed.
"We are confident that our action plan addresses the issues identified, and demonstrates Bryn Mawr Hospital’s ongoing commitment to a culture of safety and highly reliable, quality care," Megan Call, a Main Line spokeswoman wrote in an email.
She said a corrective action plan had been submitted to the state, although the state report says an approved plan is not on file.
According to the state report, a review of hospital records showed incorrect information about the patient's heart rhythm had been entered.
The report also faults the hospital for failing to record a baseline cardiac rhythm and failure to raise his triage level, condition srable, despite the test results.
"The facility failed to ensure emergency department patients received an acceptable standard of nursing care," the report states.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Physician ordered cardiac monitors were not provided to five patients at the Bryn Mawr Hospital and one of the five was critically ill and in need of immediate attention, according to a state Health Department report.
The 287-bed hospital, part of Main Line Health, also failed to assign registered nurses to accompany the emergency room patients, who were awaiting further testing.
The hospital, the report states, "failed to maintain a safe environment for Emergency Department patients ordered to receive continuous cardiac monitoring."
"Continuous cardiac monitoring, no exceptions," the physician's Sept. 19 admission order stated.
"I guess I should have looked closer at the physician's admission orders," a staffer said when asked by surveyors about the lack of a monitor.
The report details the handling of the critically ill patient including the failure of staffers to respond to test results showing the patient's potassium levels were nearly double the normal level.
When state surveyors interviewed staffers involved in the case they acknowledged mistakes were made, including the failure to notify the physician about the potassium levels.
Instead they mistakenly assumed the sample had become contaminated and debated whether to do a re-test.
"In hindsight if I had this to do all over again I would have called the physician and/or the physician's assistant for a final decision about the test results," one hospital employee told the state inspectors.
Another employee told inspectors they assumed the test result was wrong because that level of potassium was "not compatible with life."
Main Line Health officials did not respond to a series of questions about the report including whether the patient survived.
Instead they issued a statement asserting that all the issues adressed in the report had been adressed.
"We are confident that our action plan addresses the issues identified, and demonstrates Bryn Mawr Hospital’s ongoing commitment to a culture of safety and highly reliable, quality care," Megan Call, a Main Line spokeswoman wrote in an email.
She said a corrective action plan had been submitted to the state, although the state report says an approved plan is not on file.
According to the state report, a review of hospital records showed incorrect information about the patient's heart rhythm had been entered.
The report also faults the hospital for failing to record a baseline cardiac rhythm and failure to raise his triage level, condition srable, despite the test results.
"The facility failed to ensure emergency department patients received an acceptable standard of nursing care," the report states.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Deaths Recorded at PA Assisted Living Facilities
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Though the focus has been on Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes, data collected by the Pennsylvania Health Department shows multiple coronavirus deaths have also been reported in assisted living facilities.
According to the latest data posted this week by the state the most Covid-19 deaths were reported at Arden Courts of Yardley where 27 reesidents succumbed to the virus. Covid-19 deaths were also recorded at five other Arden Court facilities with 14 at King of Prussia and 12 at Allentown.
A total of at least 56 Covid deaths were reported at six Arden Court faciliies.
Other facilities with 12 or more Covid deaths include Country Meadows in Wyomissing with 14, Residence at Glen Riddle 16, Above and Beyond Mountain View 15, Bellingham Retirement Living 14 and Arbor Terrace in Willistown 12.
Contact: wfroche999@gmail.com
Though the focus has been on Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes, data collected by the Pennsylvania Health Department shows multiple coronavirus deaths have also been reported in assisted living facilities.
According to the latest data posted this week by the state the most Covid-19 deaths were reported at Arden Courts of Yardley where 27 reesidents succumbed to the virus. Covid-19 deaths were also recorded at five other Arden Court facilities with 14 at King of Prussia and 12 at Allentown.
A total of at least 56 Covid deaths were reported at six Arden Court faciliies.
Other facilities with 12 or more Covid deaths include Country Meadows in Wyomissing with 14, Residence at Glen Riddle 16, Above and Beyond Mountain View 15, Bellingham Retirement Living 14 and Arbor Terrace in Willistown 12.
Contact: wfroche999@gmail.com
Connellsville Hospital Faces Multiple Citations
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A 64-bed hospital in Fayette County has been cited by state Health Department surveyors for an assortment of violations including a lack of environmental controls and improper storage of surgical supplies.
The citations were issued as part of a Medicare recertification review for the Highlands Hospital. The review was conducted from Sept. 21 to Sept. 23.
The report recently made public also faults the facility for failing to notify the state when it instituted a new service under a contract with a third party, Suburban Imaging Associates LLC.
In addition, according to the report, the hospital failed to notify the state that the facility had received a notice that its water service was being terminated.
The hospital did file a plan of correction in which it promised to correct the deficiencies, including the replacement of missing or damaged floor and ceiling tiles in the pharmacy area.
Hospital officials did not respond to questions about the report. The hospital "failed to maintain the facility in a safe and sanitary condition for pharmacy workers," the report states.
another deficiency was actually witnessed by a state surveyor: an employee administered an injection to a patient's left buttock without wearing gloves.
The hospital also failed to conduct required annual reviews of contracted services and failed to document that patients were given copies of the hospital's Patients Bill of Rights.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A 64-bed hospital in Fayette County has been cited by state Health Department surveyors for an assortment of violations including a lack of environmental controls and improper storage of surgical supplies.
The citations were issued as part of a Medicare recertification review for the Highlands Hospital. The review was conducted from Sept. 21 to Sept. 23.
The report recently made public also faults the facility for failing to notify the state when it instituted a new service under a contract with a third party, Suburban Imaging Associates LLC.
In addition, according to the report, the hospital failed to notify the state that the facility had received a notice that its water service was being terminated.
The hospital did file a plan of correction in which it promised to correct the deficiencies, including the replacement of missing or damaged floor and ceiling tiles in the pharmacy area.
Hospital officials did not respond to questions about the report. The hospital "failed to maintain the facility in a safe and sanitary condition for pharmacy workers," the report states.
another deficiency was actually witnessed by a state surveyor: an employee administered an injection to a patient's left buttock without wearing gloves.
The hospital also failed to conduct required annual reviews of contracted services and failed to document that patients were given copies of the hospital's Patients Bill of Rights.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
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