Dallas County hospital fails to meet national standards causing patient death
Parkland Memorial Hospital in violation of 11 federal standards.
Dallas, TX (AmericanInjuryNews.com)–The Joint Commission of Hospital Associations (JCAHO) released a report finding Parkland Memorial Hospital in violation of 11 federal standards. The Joint Commission is an independent, nonprofit organization responsible for setting national standards and guidelines for U.S. hospitals. Hospitals nationwide must maintain their JCAHO accreditation to receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
The recent October 2008 evaluation, by JCAHO, was reported by the Dallas Morning News. The unannounced JCAHO evaluation of Parkland occurred in October of 2008. The impromptu hospital review was in response to a patient dropping dead in the hospital’s emergency department. He had been waiting 19 hours for evaluation and treatment. The patient was Mike Herrera, a 58 year-old man, who checked into Parkland’s emergency room for his recurring hernia problem. He was seen by the triage nurse in the emergency waiting area. Herrera reported his pain to rank “10” on a pain scale of 0-10. He was sent back to the waiting room where he waited for an additional 19 hours before he suffered cardiac arrest. Doctor’s and nurse’s finally responded to his need for care. Parkland’s healthcare workers were too late. Mr. Herrera died.
Parkland hospital officials claim the hospital remains fully accredited by JCAHO. Insights into JCAHO’s report reveal deficiencies in patients’ rights regarding pain management, adequate wait times for patient care, hospital leadership and staff qualifications. Parkland hospital refuses to honor repeated requests to release the records covering the unannounced evaluation by JCAHO investigators last October. Parkland has filed a five page brief, with the state attorney general’s office, to keep the review of its deficiencies secret. The hospital is arguing their quality review process will be comprised if the report is disclosed to Dallas County tax payers and citizens. The same people who pay for their day to day operations. Dallas County consumers remain awaiting the decision by the state attorney general’s office.
AmericanInjuryNews.com by Dallas Medical Negligence Lawyer Brian A. Eberstein
Practice areas: Medical Malpractice Claims
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