Federal regulators have lifted the immediate jeopardy status at Mission Hospital, Greg Lowe, CEO of the Asheville, N.C.-based hospital, said in a March 4 memo to staff.
CMS placed the hospital in immediate jeopardy in late January, citing multiple patient care and safety deficiencies that led to the deaths of two patients, according to a Jan. 23 CMS report. In one case, an 88-year-old woman died after not receiving a timely blood transfusion following hip surgery, according to regulators. In another case, a 55-year-old woman’s heart stopped beating. She suffered brain damage after staff failed to respond to an urgent request for heart monitoring.
Surveyors also identified an instance where the hospital failed to follow proper infection control protocols when a pair of twins with measles went more than two hours without being placed in isolation, according to the statement of deficiencies report.
CMS approved the hospital’s plan of correction Jan. 29. The agency then conducted an unannounced onsite follow-up survey to ensure compliance with the plan Feb. 13 and the immediate jeopardy status was subsequently removed, Mr. Lowe confirmed to staff in the memo, which was obtained by Becker’s.
“Since that time, we have been working diligently to strengthen our patient safety and quality programs,” Mr. Lowe said in the memo. “This work has included collaboration with experienced healthcare and quality consultants, as well as focused internal efforts to ensure meaningful and sustainable improvements. I think we all recognize the vital role of our hospital, so it is important that we continuously improve and build trust in our community.”
The hospital also plans to work with several of HCA Healthcare’s “most experienced clinical and quality leaders” in the coming months to support improvements in patient safety and care processes, Mr. Lowe said. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare acquired Mission Health in 2019.
The designation marked the third time Mission Hospital had been placed in immediate jeopardy in the past two years and the fourth since HCA acquired the system. The most recent finding followed a Jan. 6-9 inspection by state regulators.
Although the immediate jeopardy designation has been lifted, the hospital remains out of compliance with several Medicare conditions of participation, including requirements related to patient rights, nursing services and infection prevention and control, according to a Feb. 27 CMS letter obtained by the Asheville Watchdog. The hospital must return to substantial compliance by July 29 or risk losing its Medicare provider agreement.
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