Father Stepped In to Insert NG Tube

This story was updated on May 21 with comments from a hospital spokesman, Dan Laurent.

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

When a patient's family grew visibly irritated with the failed efforts of a hospital worker to place a nasogastric tube, the patient's father stepped in and, on the third try, placed the tube.
The incident occurred at the Allegheny General Hospital, according to a recently released report from the state Health Department, which cited the facility for allowing a non-credentialed physician to perform a procedure.
According to the five-page report dated April 5, an unidentified hospital employee made several failed attempts to insert the tube. The actual date of the incident was not included in the report.
"The patient's family was visibly agitated at the failed attmpts," the report states, adding "The patient's father, who is a physician, immediately said he would place the tube."
The report states that the unidentified hospital employee then handed the tube to the father, who then failed twice to insert the tube through the patient's right nostril. But after a break the father successfully inserted the tube.
"The tube had output of green bile," state health surveyors reported.
In an interview with the state investigators, an unidentified hospital employee acknowledged that the father was not credentialed to practice at Allegheny General.
"The facility failed to ensure an appointed and credentialed physician performed a procedure," the report stated.
The hospital filed a plan of correction in which it promised to educate the staff about the requirement that only credentialed physcians perform medical procedures at the facility.
In addition audits will be performed to ensure compliance.
Allegheny General spokesman Dan Laurent said the plan of correction had been fully implemented and accepted by the state. He noted the hospital self-reported the incident and there was no evidence of physical harm to the patient.
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