By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-981473.mp3
Dallas, TX – Parkland Hospital is on notice that it must make improvements or lose Medicaid and Medicare funding. Those reimbursements are a large part of Parkland's Budget. KERA's BJ Austin reports.
Parkland CEO Dr. Ron Anderson, in a written statement says the hospital has until August 20th to come up with a plan to correct deficiencies found during an eight-day inspection of Parkland in July. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services looked particularly at psychiatric care following the death of a 49 year old patient in February. But they also focused on many other areas.
In his statement, Dr. Anderson says "We own up to the fact that there are problems we must fix and improvements we need to make." He also notes Parkland is a 57 year old facility that must deliver 21st century medicine.
Federal officials told the Dallas Morning News that Parkland violations in emergency care and infection control were serious enough to trigger "immediate jeopardy" status - the most severe finding.
Another inspection or survey will be done before September 2nd, the date Parkland's federal Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements could be cut off.