This story was updated on April 1
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at a state veterans nursing facility brought admonition from state health inspectors, according to a recently released report.
Four residents at the Gino Merli Veterans Center in Scranton were deprived of "services necessary to maintain personal hygiene," the report states.
Due to efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus the four patients were limited to two bed baths a week. They were not allowed to shower as they had in the past.
The new policy, according to the report, was imposed on units at the nursing home which were under "transmission based precautions."
There have been 18 Covid-19 deaths at the 196-bed facility. A total of 63 Merli residents have been diagnosed with the virus.
One of the patients suffered from Parkinson's disease and needed assistance for bathing or showering.
He told the health surveyors the new bathing policy was imposed without notice. An administrator later acknowledged residents were not notified of the changed policy.
Bathing and showering activity did not occur," the report states referring to another one of the four.br />
Despite the statements made by patients to the state inspectors, Joan Nissley, spokeswoman for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said the bed baths were initiated at the request of the patients themselves. She said that with the presence of Covid cases they did not want to bathe in the communal area.
A resident who is unable to carry out activities of daily living should receive necessary services, the report states.
In a plan of correction in response to the report, center officials said steps were taken to ensure residents got proper hygiene. The report states that measures to control the spread of Covid-19 would be reviewed and revised.
The report also faults the facility for failing to provide prompt and proper assistance to residents needing assistance in dining.
Seven of 10 "totally dependent residents" were kept waiting for 25 minutes in the dining area while the other three were fed.
The seven "were not treated in a dignified manner during meal service," the report states.
In its plan of correction Merli officials said they would take steps to ensure that all residents were fed at the same time.
The health department surveyors also faulted the facility for "failure to maintain acceptable practices for the storage and service of food."
Cited were containers of frozen chicken which were not labeled or dated.
A concurrent inspection of the hospital for compliance with the federal Life Safety Code turned up several violations including one involving the automatic sprinkler system.
In its plan of correction Merli officials said several of the items had been corrected even as the inspection was going on.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Monday, March 29, 2021
Monday, March 22, 2021
Care for Critically Ill Patient Delayed
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A critically ill 79-year-old patient was kept waiting nearly five hours last Christmas before being transferred to a higher level of care and placed on a monitor as her doctor had ordered.
The case involving the 249-bed Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono was detailed in a report recently made public by the state Health Department.
The patient arrived at the East Stroudsburg hospital suffering from a gastrointestinal bleed. Shortly before noon, the report states, the patient's condition worsened and the attending physician ordered that she be transferred to the telemetry unit and placed on a monitor.
That order came at 11:46 a.m., but it wasn't until 5:03 p.m. that the patient was transferred.
The patient was not monitored from 11:46 a.m. to 5:03 p.m.,the report notes.
When state surveyors questioned hospital employees about the delay, they were told there were no telemetry units on the medical/surgical floor and staffers had not been trained to read telemetry monitors.
The patient's transfer was delayed because there were no available beds in the telemetry unit, the state surveyors were told.
The hospital filed a plan of correction which calls for a nurse to monitor patients awaiting transfer to the telemetry unit. If that was not possible the patient would be transferred to another facility.
Hospital officials did not respond to a series of questions about the report including the ultimate outcome for the 79-year-old patient.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A critically ill 79-year-old patient was kept waiting nearly five hours last Christmas before being transferred to a higher level of care and placed on a monitor as her doctor had ordered.
The case involving the 249-bed Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono was detailed in a report recently made public by the state Health Department.
The patient arrived at the East Stroudsburg hospital suffering from a gastrointestinal bleed. Shortly before noon, the report states, the patient's condition worsened and the attending physician ordered that she be transferred to the telemetry unit and placed on a monitor.
That order came at 11:46 a.m., but it wasn't until 5:03 p.m. that the patient was transferred.
The patient was not monitored from 11:46 a.m. to 5:03 p.m.,the report notes.
When state surveyors questioned hospital employees about the delay, they were told there were no telemetry units on the medical/surgical floor and staffers had not been trained to read telemetry monitors.
The patient's transfer was delayed because there were no available beds in the telemetry unit, the state surveyors were told.
The hospital filed a plan of correction which calls for a nurse to monitor patients awaiting transfer to the telemetry unit. If that was not possible the patient would be transferred to another facility.
Hospital officials did not respond to a series of questions about the report including the ultimate outcome for the 79-year-old patient.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Friday, March 19, 2021
Lewisburg Hospital Deficiencies Cited
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A Lewisburg hospital has been cited by Pennsylvania health officials for multiple deficiencies including failing to comply with informed consent requirements in a dozen patient cases.
According to the report the informed consent forms were not signed and most had the notation "No signature due to Covid."
The report was the result of an inspection of the Evangelical Community Hospital to determine whether the 162-bed facility met the requirements for a state license.
Hospital officials did not respond to detailed questions about the deficiencies but issued a statement contending that "very few" deficiencies were cited.
"The hospital submitted its plans of correction for the deficiencies. They have been reviewed and accepted by the Department of Health. Those plans are currently being implemented within the outlined timeframe to adequately address the deficiencies noted," said Curtis Yeager an Evangelical associate vice president.
"It is not uncommon to be given direction by the state on ways to strengthen operations," he added.
Other citations in the state report include failure to properly monitor three patients who were placed in physical or chemical restraints and the failure of one staffer to maintain the proper certification.
The staffer, according to the report was not board certified in emergency medicine. The report also cites the hospital for deficiencies in its credentialing process.
Finally the state surveyors concluded that hospital staffers failed to follow facility policy regarding referrals to the organ donor program.
In one case the hospital paperwork failed to disclose what organ was being donated. The hospital did file a plan of correction with the state which included daily auditing program to ensure physical restraint monitoring requirements were met.
The plan also calls for improvements in the informed consent process and adherence to proper credentialing procedures.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A Lewisburg hospital has been cited by Pennsylvania health officials for multiple deficiencies including failing to comply with informed consent requirements in a dozen patient cases.
According to the report the informed consent forms were not signed and most had the notation "No signature due to Covid."
The report was the result of an inspection of the Evangelical Community Hospital to determine whether the 162-bed facility met the requirements for a state license.
Hospital officials did not respond to detailed questions about the deficiencies but issued a statement contending that "very few" deficiencies were cited.
"The hospital submitted its plans of correction for the deficiencies. They have been reviewed and accepted by the Department of Health. Those plans are currently being implemented within the outlined timeframe to adequately address the deficiencies noted," said Curtis Yeager an Evangelical associate vice president.
"It is not uncommon to be given direction by the state on ways to strengthen operations," he added.
Other citations in the state report include failure to properly monitor three patients who were placed in physical or chemical restraints and the failure of one staffer to maintain the proper certification.
The staffer, according to the report was not board certified in emergency medicine. The report also cites the hospital for deficiencies in its credentialing process.
Finally the state surveyors concluded that hospital staffers failed to follow facility policy regarding referrals to the organ donor program.
In one case the hospital paperwork failed to disclose what organ was being donated. The hospital did file a plan of correction with the state which included daily auditing program to ensure physical restraint monitoring requirements were met.
The plan also calls for improvements in the informed consent process and adherence to proper credentialing procedures.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Friday, March 12, 2021
20 More Covid Deaths at PA Vet Homes
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
An additional 20 veterans have died of Covid-19 in nursing homes run by the state of Pennsylvania, according to data provided by the agency that runs the facilities.
As of this week 119 veterans had died from the Coronavirus in the six state veterans homes up from the 99 in early January, according to the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Seventeen of the additional deaths came at the Gino Merli Veterans Center in Scranton while three additional deaths were at the Hollidaysburg Veterans Center in Blair County. In January only one Covid death had been reported at the Scranton facility while 17 were reported at the Blair County home.
Covid-19 deaths at the Delaware Valley Veterans Center in Philadelphia total 18 and the same number of Covid deaths have been recorded at the Pennsylvania Soldiers and Sailors Home in Erie.
Only three Covid deaths have been recorded at the Southwestern Veterans Center in Pittsburgh.
The largest number of Coronavirus victims came at the Southeastern Veterans Center in Chester County where 42 deaths have been attributed to the virus.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
An additional 20 veterans have died of Covid-19 in nursing homes run by the state of Pennsylvania, according to data provided by the agency that runs the facilities.
As of this week 119 veterans had died from the Coronavirus in the six state veterans homes up from the 99 in early January, according to the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Seventeen of the additional deaths came at the Gino Merli Veterans Center in Scranton while three additional deaths were at the Hollidaysburg Veterans Center in Blair County. In January only one Covid death had been reported at the Scranton facility while 17 were reported at the Blair County home.
Covid-19 deaths at the Delaware Valley Veterans Center in Philadelphia total 18 and the same number of Covid deaths have been recorded at the Pennsylvania Soldiers and Sailors Home in Erie.
Only three Covid deaths have been recorded at the Southwestern Veterans Center in Pittsburgh.
The largest number of Coronavirus victims came at the Southeastern Veterans Center in Chester County where 42 deaths have been attributed to the virus.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Monday, March 8, 2021
Hospital Cited In Patient Suicide
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A state of immediate jeopardy was declared by state health officials early this year when they visited a Bradford County hospital to investigate a complaint about a patient's attempted suicide while in the facility's behavioral unit.
The patient, who was hospitalized following another attempted suicide, was found unconcious in his room hanging from a bathroom doorway.
State inspectors faulted the 267-bed Robert Packer Hospital for failing to remove hazardous materials from a room where a suicidal patient had been placed. The hospital is located in Sayre, which is about 50 miles northwest of Scranton near the New York border.
Hospital employees failed to remove a chair from the patient's room, which was subsequently used, along with a hospital flat sheet, in the suicide attempt.
Even after the incident the state surveyors found that while bathroom doors had been removed protrusions remained in behavioral unit rooms that could be used to attach a ligature and commit suicide.
The hospital also was faulted for failing to inform the patient's family of the suicide attempt. They also failed to comply with a state law requiring that such incidents be reported to the state Patient Safety Authority and the state Health Department within 24 hours.
Hospital officials did not respond to a request for comment but they did file a plan to remove the immediate jeopardy declaration and a plan of correction to prevent a recurrence.
In addition to removing the bathroom doors re-education sessions were held with behavioral staff about the need to remove items that could be used in a suicide attempt. Staff also were informed of the need to check on some behavioral patients every 15 minutes.
Flat sheets on behavioral unit beds were replaced with fitted sheets, according to the corrective action plan.
According to the state report the patient was admitted to the hospital following another suicide attempt in which the patient was stabbed in the abdomen and on the arms.
On Jan. 8 at 4 p.m. the patient requested a chair to take a shower. While the chair should have been removed as soon as the shower was completed it was still in the patient's room the next day when staffers found the patient hanging from the bathroom doorway.
The report also questioned why the hospital changed the category of the incident in hospital records from a "code blue" to a "rapid Response team."
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A state of immediate jeopardy was declared by state health officials early this year when they visited a Bradford County hospital to investigate a complaint about a patient's attempted suicide while in the facility's behavioral unit.
The patient, who was hospitalized following another attempted suicide, was found unconcious in his room hanging from a bathroom doorway.
State inspectors faulted the 267-bed Robert Packer Hospital for failing to remove hazardous materials from a room where a suicidal patient had been placed. The hospital is located in Sayre, which is about 50 miles northwest of Scranton near the New York border.
Hospital employees failed to remove a chair from the patient's room, which was subsequently used, along with a hospital flat sheet, in the suicide attempt.
Even after the incident the state surveyors found that while bathroom doors had been removed protrusions remained in behavioral unit rooms that could be used to attach a ligature and commit suicide.
The hospital also was faulted for failing to inform the patient's family of the suicide attempt. They also failed to comply with a state law requiring that such incidents be reported to the state Patient Safety Authority and the state Health Department within 24 hours.
Hospital officials did not respond to a request for comment but they did file a plan to remove the immediate jeopardy declaration and a plan of correction to prevent a recurrence.
In addition to removing the bathroom doors re-education sessions were held with behavioral staff about the need to remove items that could be used in a suicide attempt. Staff also were informed of the need to check on some behavioral patients every 15 minutes.
Flat sheets on behavioral unit beds were replaced with fitted sheets, according to the corrective action plan.
According to the state report the patient was admitted to the hospital following another suicide attempt in which the patient was stabbed in the abdomen and on the arms.
On Jan. 8 at 4 p.m. the patient requested a chair to take a shower. While the chair should have been removed as soon as the shower was completed it was still in the patient's room the next day when staffers found the patient hanging from the bathroom doorway.
The report also questioned why the hospital changed the category of the incident in hospital records from a "code blue" to a "rapid Response team."
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Hospital Failed to Monitor Patient
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A patient at a Bucks County hospital who was supposed to be monitored every hour was not checked for seven hours when he was finally found unresponsive.
The November incident at Saint Mary Medical Center prompted inspectors from the state Health Department to declare a state of immediate jeopardy when they arrived at the facility in early December.
The details of the case were spelled out in a report just made public by the state agency.
The report does not indicate whether the patient recovered and hospital officials did not respond to a series of questions.
According to the report the patient, who had a history of diabetes and a heart condition arrived at the hospital on Nov. 23 and a physician ordered that he be placed on a continuous insulin drip. Under hospital policy that meant the patient was supposed to be monitored every hour for glucose levels.
According to the report, hospital records showed that the patient was not monitored at all from 10:45 a.m. till 7:08 p.m. when he was found unresponsive.
"Glucose measurements should have been taken every hour," the report states, adding that "a patient has a right to receive care in a safe setting."
In response to the immediate jeopardy declaration, hospital officials drew up an immediate response including staff education and a system to create an alert whenever a continuous insulin drip is ordered.
The state of immediate jeopardy was lifted at 8:12 p.m. on Dec. 12 after the immediate response plan was approved.
According to the report the employee, identified as Employee 3, who was supposed to have monitored the patient was on leave and unavailable for interview.
"Employee 3 did not follow the appropriate physician's orders," the report states.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A patient at a Bucks County hospital who was supposed to be monitored every hour was not checked for seven hours when he was finally found unresponsive.
The November incident at Saint Mary Medical Center prompted inspectors from the state Health Department to declare a state of immediate jeopardy when they arrived at the facility in early December.
The details of the case were spelled out in a report just made public by the state agency.
The report does not indicate whether the patient recovered and hospital officials did not respond to a series of questions.
According to the report the patient, who had a history of diabetes and a heart condition arrived at the hospital on Nov. 23 and a physician ordered that he be placed on a continuous insulin drip. Under hospital policy that meant the patient was supposed to be monitored every hour for glucose levels.
According to the report, hospital records showed that the patient was not monitored at all from 10:45 a.m. till 7:08 p.m. when he was found unresponsive.
"Glucose measurements should have been taken every hour," the report states, adding that "a patient has a right to receive care in a safe setting."
In response to the immediate jeopardy declaration, hospital officials drew up an immediate response including staff education and a system to create an alert whenever a continuous insulin drip is ordered.
The state of immediate jeopardy was lifted at 8:12 p.m. on Dec. 12 after the immediate response plan was approved.
According to the report the employee, identified as Employee 3, who was supposed to have monitored the patient was on leave and unavailable for interview.
"Employee 3 did not follow the appropriate physician's orders," the report states.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
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