By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
Previous coverage
* Sept. 4: Hamlet hospital back on track?
* Aug. 22: Sandhills Regional Medical Center faces termination of Medicare payments
* July 28: Hospital janitor accused of sexually assaulting two patients
Lisa Dolan, interim chief executive office for Sandhills Regional Medical Center in Hamlet, told The Pee Dee Post in an email Thursday evening that a post-investigation interview with officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) “was positive.”
The announcement comes two days before a government agency was set to suspend Medicare and Medicaid payments.
In August, CMS published a legal notice that indicated Medicaid and Medicare payments would be suspended at the hospital — leaving patients covered under either plan without their regular doctors. The deadline set was Sept. 6. Even a temporary suspension would have been devastating and, for patients, disrupted their expected treatment plans.
But Dolan wrote that it appears there will not be a suspension.
“Our administration and nursing leadership have worked together to strengthen our policies and procedures to meet and exceed CMS expectations,” Dolan said. “CMS has accepted our plan of correction and concluded its onsite survey. While we have not yet received a written report, the verbal exit interview was positive and indicated their concerns have been addressed. We are pleased to continue as a participating provider for the Medicare program.”
At issue is the involuntary termination of the Medicare/Medicaid Provider Agreement between the hospital and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. A legal notice published Aug. 22, which The Pee Dee Post was first to report, indicated Sandhills Regional Medical Center failed in three areas — governing body, patient rights and nursing services.
On Thursday, a CMS representative who preferred not to be identified said staff at her agency were “working on the final report right now” shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday.
The report, the spokesperson said, should be available “in a couple days.”
On Aug. 22, the Post filed a Freedom of Information Act request to Bobby Cobb and Lee Millman, both of of the Atlanta office of CMS. The request specifically sought “Report 2567 and all related documents from Jan. 1, 2014 through Aug. 22, 2014.”
Through 4 p.m. Thursday, however, that request had not been fulfilled.
It’s not clear if the “patient safety issue” is related to the July arrest of a contractor who worked at the hospital as a janitor. Still, Dolan indicated that any threat to patient safety would get the administration’s attention and be addressed as quickly as possible.
“The care and safety of patients is our highest priority,” Dolan said via email. “Our Board of Trustees, Medical Staff and Administration are engaged and will continue to monitor our quality successes and identify opportunities for continued improvement.”