The Department of Mental Health suspended new patient admissions following a surprise inspection on Aug. 31, citing patient safety concerns and improper cleanliness.
Arbour Health spokeswoman Judy Merel told The Boston Globe that inspectors identified “a small number” of issues involving the physical plant and clinical documentation. As a result, Lowell Treatment Center officials sped up the timeline for improvements at the facility, according to The Boston Globe
State officials returned to Lowell Treatment Center Sept. 1 and Sept 6. to check on these improvements; however, the mental health department did not allow admissions to resume.
This is the second hospital owned by Arbour Health to be cited for serious safety lapses in the past month. Arbour’s Westwood (Mass.) Lodge was closed permanently Aug. 25 due to issues of patient safety, quality of care and failure to comply with DMH requirements.
Currently, eight adults and four adolescents are at the hospital. No new patients will be accepted until DMH requirements are met.
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