Miriam ordered to fix safety issues<br> after wrong-site surgery

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Health says it found “several problems” in The Miriam Hospital’s surgery program during an inspection following a report of a wrong-site surgery at the hospital’s ambulatory surgical center on Sept. 19.
The deficiencies include failure to follow the hospital’s policy to visually inspect the surgical site during a time out before the surgery, failure to use indelible ink to mark the site, and failure to verify the original source of information related to the surgery and site.
Miriam has signed a consent agreement with the state, and at the request of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, it must now undergo a full survey and inspection by the state.
The hospital – a member of the nonprofit Lifespan health care network – has also agreed to hire a consultant to evaluate its policies and protocols for compliance with national best practices in safety and clinical outcomes; to complete on-site inspections for the next 12 months; and to submit reports to the state and its own board. It also will design and implement a near-miss reporting program for its staff. •