By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-982176.mp3
Dallas, TX – Parkland Hospital has a week to "fix" a list of serious problems outlined in a federal audit. If it misses the deadline, the hospital loses Medicare and Medicaid funding - a large part of its budget. KERA's BJ Austin reports the crisis was the subject of a closed door meeting with Dallas County Commissioners Tuesday.
An audit by the Commission on Medicare and Medicaid Services found a number of serious problems at Parkland. Some, the report said, put patients in immediate jeopardy.
County Commissioners, Parkland doctors and hospital Board members met for two hours behind closed doors to talk about the crisis. Afterward, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said the public deserves an apology for what has happened. And he says it will be fixed.
Jenkins: There is nothing more important than patient care at Parkland and ensuring that these immediate threats are fixed and that's got to be job one. Just like a doctor, first we've got to stabilize the patient before we can do that healing operation. So, the number one goal is to take care of these immediate patient threats.
But the public doesn't know exactly what those immediate patient threats are. Recent reports cited issues with hospital infection control and emergency care. Parkland is not releasing the CMS audit as Board member Debbie Branson explains.
Branson: Our legal counsel has determined that now is not the best time to release the document, that it's better once we have the plan of correction in place. There's a lot of intense discussion, give and take. There's some private patient information that's being talked about. And we've got to get it right.
Parkland Board member Cobie Russell says the stakes are high.
Russell: There are people who are truly counting on our capacity to provide them with healthcare services in dire circumstances as well as just general illness. There's no room for guessing here. People are counting on us to get it right.
Russell says in addition to the immediate triage of hospital care and policies, the Board will also look at the "culture" that could have created the lapses in appropriate standards.
Does that mean Parkland CEO Ron Anderson's job is in jeopardy? Judge Jenkins says ALL options are on the table. Board member Debbie Branson says Dr. Anderson's contract expires at the end of the year and is already under review. She says the CMS audit and Dr. Anderson's 30 years of service to Parkland will both weigh into any decision about his future.