Susquehanna Hospital Flunks Medicare Certification

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A rural 83-bed Pennsylvania hospital has been cited for multiple deficiencies during a Medicare re-certifcation review in late May by surveyors from the state Health Department. The Barnes-Kasson County Hospital was found to be "not in compliance" during a four-day review ending on May 24.
Hospital officials did not respond to requests for comment.
According to the lengthy inspection report the hospital "failed to ensure re-usable equipment was cleaned and re-processed appropriately."
The surveyors found test strips used in the cleaning and reprocessing department were opened but undated as required.
In the dietary department inspectors from the state Health Department observed employees with unrestrained hair and failure to make food temperature checks.
Other deficiencies included the failure to post signs notifying patients that a licensed physician is not on duty 24 hours per day- seven days a week and the failure to properly inventory outdated narcotic drugs.
Outdated drugs cited in the report include oxycontin, morphine and fentanyl patches.
Surveyors also cited the hospital for failure to document proper supervision of nurse anesthetists and failing to properly review dozens of incident reports including 10 falls and a dozen medication errors.
The hospital filed a plan of correction that calls for staff re-education for employees involved in the areas cited by the surveyors. In the quality control department the hospital's corrective action plan calls for monthly reviews to ensure incident reports are reviewed.
The hospital plan also calls for checks to ensure expired narcotic drugs are handled properly.
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