Last month, state officials received a complaint, sparking an investigation into the hospital’s compliance to state and federal standards. Department officials discovered “serious deficiencies and violations” that were not made immediately available.
The results of that investigation are now public and show that Saint Catherine Medical Center lacked critical supplies, including zero boxes of surgical gloves and medicated soap at the time of the investigation. The report also showed the hospital’s ICU had no syringes and needles.
The hospital also failed to conduct required maintenance check-ups on vital hospital equipment, including electrocardiograms, defibrillators and ventilators. Since the hospital shut down all services aside from its long-term services, 150 workers were laid off. Officials must work to rectify all noted citations in order to remain qualified for Medicare payments.
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