Bucks Hospital Cited For Covid-19 Issues

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Pennsylvania health surveyors have cited a Bucks County hospital for failing to document that some 24 employees who had been exposed to Covid-19 patients were properly informed within 24-hours as mandated by state procedures.
The citation was issued against the 175-bed Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol and involved some two dozen hospital employees who had contact with a total of five Covid-19 patients.
The facility "failed to document staff notification of contact and/or date and time of notificationn with Covid-19 positive patients," the recently made public report states.
"This was a documentation issue," hospital spokeswoman Michelle Aliprantis wrote in an email response to questions about the incidents. She added that all hospital employees are provided with the appropriate personal protective equipment.
The report cites a state requirement that hospitals "notify a member of the staff who was in close contact with a patient COVID-19 positive as soon as practical but no later than 24 hours after the contact is known."
The contacts, acording to the report, occurred in August and November.
The report also notes that employees who have been exposed may request to be tested for Covid-19 "no earlier than six days" after the suspected contact.
Aliprantis said "the documentation of the notification was not completely recorded with regards to date and time."
Per our policy," she continued, "staff can request to be tested if and when they choose. Lower Bucks Hospital does PCR COVID-19 testing in-house, so employees have immediate access to testing with available results within six hours."
She said the hospital has implemented a corrective action plan which was accepted by the state.
Under the plan the hospital amended its policies and procedures to conform to the state requirements.
"We are taking all necessary measures and precautions to protect the safety of our patients and staff," she concluded.
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