A safety event that affected four patients at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville, Tenn., led to the hospital self-reporting to state regulators, according to a statement from the hospital’s CEO.
Hospital leadership reported the event to state regulators and launched an investigation the day it occurred, President and CEO Shubhada Jagasia, MD, said in an Aug. 19 statement shared with Becker’s.
The hospital declined to provide any specific clinical details about the safety event, citing patient privacy, though a local news station spoke with a family member of one of the affected patients.
A woman told WKRN her mother-in-law became paralyzed after receiving potassium during a knee replacement surgery at the hospital, the CBS affiliate reported Aug. 18. According to the patient’s daughter-in-law, Kristina Dorton, the 72-year-old woman underwent the knee replacement Aug. 14; the procedure itself was successful, but Ms. Dorton said the surgical team is believed to have administered potassium instead of the intended local anesthetic, bupivacaine, during spinal anesthesia.
The patient was moved to the ICU afterward and, as of Aug. 18, had no feeling, movement or pain response from her breastbone down, according to WKRN. The hospital has not confirmed the medication error or whether the same error affected the other three patients.
Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown said it has identified the cause of the safety event and implemented corrective safeguards.
“Our hearts are with the four patients and their families impacted by this event. On behalf of our leadership and care teams, I am deeply sorry for the harm caused to our patients,” Dr. Jagasia said. “We have met directly with each of the families to express our deep support, connected them with spiritual care teams, and ensured they have access to all appropriate resources and ongoing care needed.
“Providing safe, high-quality care is at the core of everything we do, and any gap in meeting that standard receives our immediate, uncompromising attention.”
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
