Mt. Ascutney Hospital could face federal sanctions after an unannounced site survey from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services uncovered patient care and restraint issues.
CMS visited the Windsor hospital on Dec. 9 to investigate a complaint, and discovered that hospital staff failed to develop a prevention policy for a patient who was prone to fall.
That patient, who was being treated for cancer, according to CMS records, sustained six falls during 42 days at the hospital.
A second patient was restrained, and nurses failed to accurately document the restraint, federal records show.
Mt. Ascutney Hospital CEO Kevin Donovan says the hospital was working actively with federal regulators to establish better record keeping policies.
"It's still an ongoing discussion with CMS," Donovan says. "So CMS came and provided us some feedback, and then we responded to CMS's feedback with a proposed plan, and we are awaiting more discussion with CMS."
Under the hospital's "plan of correction," which was sent to CMS in late December, nurses will be required to record when patients fall and compile quarterly and annual data.
Hospital staff will also be trained to use less restrictive alternatives to restraint, and to record all incidences of restraint.
CMS can still impose penalties if a follow-up visit finds the staff out of compliance with its plan of correction.
