DAYTONA BEACH — Halifax Health has received a strong warning from the state that it needs to immediately correct deficiencies that led to a surgeon operating on the wrong leg.
Inspectors concluded the hospital failed to “ensure that surgical services were well organized in accordance with acceptable standards of practice,” according to documents released Tuesday.
The hospital reviewed the wrong-site operation and implemented changes to ensure a similar mistake doesn’t happen again, said John Guthrie, a Halifax Health spokesman.
“We have submitted our corrective action plan,” Guthrie said. “We have updated and reviewed all of the policies. We have increased the training level and made sure all of our folks are trained on those policies.”
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In a July 30 letter, the Agency for Health Care Administration recommended the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services end its provider agreement with Halifax Health effective Aug. 17 — the strongest punitive action in its arsenal. The agency wrote the hospital had an immediate jeopardy violation, meaning conditions at the hospital pose an immediate and serious threat to the health and safety of patients.
Provided the hospital is cooperative and passes a follow-up inspection, Halifax Health will continue to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments, said Shelisha Coleman, an Agency for Health Care Administration spokeswoman.
Date: August 14, 2013