Bucks Hospital Failed to Report Serious Event

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Pennsylvania health officials have cited a Bucks County hospital for failing to report a serious event in which a patient suffered a serious pressure ulcer.
Acting on an unannounced complaint surveyors from the state Health Department found that St. Mary's Medical Center in Langhorne failed to report the June incident as required under the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error law.
In addition a patient had to be lowered to the floor while being transported to the radiology department. According to the report the patient was not accompanied by a nurse.
"It was determined the facility failed to ensure patient safety during transport to an ancillary department," the report states.
The hospital, which has 371 beds, filed a plan of correction in which it promised to re-educate staff on the reporting requirements and to have its patient safety committee review such incidents.
The March 12 report also cites the hospital for failure to set time limits in its bylaws for consultations by specialists to be performed. The report details the delay in one patient getting a needed neurology consult.
Asked to comment on the report hospital spokeswoman Ann D'Antonio said federal law barred her from discussing details of any individual patient's treatment or confirming the details of patient visits.
"At St. Mary Medical Center the safety and comfort of our patients/participants is our top priority, and we maintain strict procedures to promote a positive, healing environment," she wrote in an email.
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