Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services lifts ‘immediate jeopardy’ finding against UNC Hospitals

Oct. 1, 2004

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services lifts ‘immediate jeopardy’ finding against UNC Hospitals

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – On Friday, Oct. 1, the N.C. Division of Facility Services completed a two-day inspection of the patient care units in the N.C. Children’s Hospital.

As a result of that inspection, the DFS and the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) determined that UNC Hospitals is in full compliance with the conditions of participation in the CMS program, and the CMS lifted its previous finding that patients were in “immediate jeopardy.”

“Patient safety is always our top priority,” said Gary Park, president of UNC Hospitals. “We are pleased that the DFS has validated the safety policies and procedures we have in place in the N.C. Children’s Hospital.”

The DFS inspection was triggered by an incident during the evening of Sept. 8 in which a father removed his 2-year-old daughter from the N.C. Children’s Hospital without notifying physician and hospital staff. Since then, UNC Hospitals has implemented additional measures to augment existing security in patient care units in the N.C. Children’s Hospital.

A remedial plan to safeguard patients was put into effect on Friday, Sept. 10. The plan includes the installation of additional controlled access doors, closed-circuit video cameras and other monitoring equipment. Persons who wish to enter or leave these units, including patients and their family members, now will have to be “buzzed in” by a UNC Hospitals employee.

Additional security staff members are currently monitoring entrances to the pediatric units until the new equipment is in place. Together, these new measures provide an enhanced level of security.

Media contact: Stephanie Crayton, (919) 966-2860, scrayton@unch.unc.edu