Carmichael, Calif.-based Mercy San Juan Medical Center is under scrutiny after numerous deceased patients were transported to an off-site morgue without next of kin being notified, Medpage Today reported March 25.
The issue has spanned the last three years, according to statements of deficiencies from CMS and lawsuits filed by patients’ families. They found the hospital failed to meet requirements to complete patients’ death certificates within 15 hours, make sufficient attempts to notify family and write discharge summaries within 14 days.
At least 17 of those patients were kept in the off-site morgue for 1.5 to 2.5 years after their death, NBC affiliate KCRA reported. Dignity Health said staff shortages at the small facility is what led to the backlog and delay.
The most recent violation was investigated by CMS on Oct. 4. Investigators found “the off-site morgue had 61 patient remains from the hospital, 11 patient remains from deaths in 2022, 15 patient remains from deaths in 2023, and 19 patient remains from deaths in the first half of 2024.”
The president of the 384-bed Dignity Health hospital told investigators that the stored remains did not have families and a number were homeless persons.
“Our goal is to provide the best care and support possible for patients and their families,” a Dignity Health spokesperson told Medpage Today. “Consistent with patient privacy laws and hospital policy, we respect our patients’ privacy by not discussing the specifics of their care.”
The hospital was sued in August by a family who said it was not informed of a woman’s death until a year afterward. Mercy San Juan also faced scrutiny in May 2023 after a patient’s body was picked up from the off-site morgue by an unknown entity. And in February 2022, a patient who died of “an accidental overdose” in the hospital in July 2021 was treated as a John Doe despite him having his cellphone, wallet and identification on his person, according to the complaint.
The hospital has submitted a plan of correction for the latest deficiencies, which was accepted.
