Posted on 09/25/2008 5:21:38 PM PDT by kellynla
ORANGE – UCI Medical Center could lose Medicare funding after investigators found that anesthesiologists falsified surgical records, filling them out before patients were ever put under on the operating table.
Inspectors found serious deficiencies that "substantially limit the hospital's capacity to render adequate care to patients," according to the certified letter and report sent Aug. 15 to the hospital's administrator.
The Register obtained a copy of the public record from Medicare officials after UCI failed to respond to a Sept. 12 request for the report and accompanying information. UCI officials sent the Register an e-mail today – after learning of this story – saying they planned to respond Oct. 27.
According to the report, state inspectors who arrived at the hospital in May found 10 instances where doctors had filled out medical records about a surgery's progress and outcomes – before the operation even happened.
On one occasion, inspectors found a completed operating-room record that showed the patient left the table that day at 10:30 a.m. The problem: It was 9:30 a.m. at the time and the patient was still in surgery.
In another case, a medical record for a patient was filled out in February 2007, indicating that the patient was stable throughout an endoscopy, a procedure where a tube is placed in the body. In fact, the anesthesia and endoscopy were not performed until three months later.
The report said the doctor "appeared visibly upset when shown the record and was unable to explain the blank record that had been pre-filled out, prior to the actual anesthesia procedure."
Dr. David Bailey, who was brought in last year to become the new vice chancellor overseeing the medical school and the hospital, said patient safety was not compromised by the "stupid" record-keeping.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
A tour of the hospital was conducted on 5/19/08. During the tour, at 0925 hours, a random selection of open medical records for patients undergoing surgery and under anesthesia was inspected. The anesthesia record for Patient #1 revealed Patient #1 came to the surgery area of the hospital … on 5/19/08. M.D. O, the anesthesiologist providing direct care for Patient #1 had signed the record stating that Patient #1 had left the operating room at 1030 hours. This medical record was inspected at 0930 hours on 5/19/08. At that time, Patient #1 was in the operating room, still undergoing anesthesia for a surgical procedure.
The closed medical record for Patient #2 was reviewed with MD P on 5/27/08. The closed medical record for Patient #2 revealed that Patient #2 presented to the hospital for endoscopy and was evaluated by MD P on 2/21/07. When reviewed, the blank anesthetic record had been signed by MD P and revealed that Patient #2 was "stable" during induction, "stable" during the intraoperative period and "stable" during extubation. The actual anesthesia and the endoscopy was not performed until 5/22/07. MD P appeared visibly upset when shown the record and was unable to explain the blank record that had been pre-filled out, prior to the actual anesthetic procedure.
…When inquiries were made, in an effort to track and trend the quality of the contracted services of anesthesia, access to the information was denied. A review of the minutes from the governing body for the years 2005-2007, revealed no written documentation that the governing body acted to ensure that contracted services for maintenance and repair of the equipment was reviewed for quality, safety and opportunities for improvement.
Source: Department for Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Statement of Deficiencies
Lock ‘em up.
They wanted to be sure the records were filled out and didn't want to be distracted.
Noted clinician, researcher and administrator to oversee UC Irvine Medical Center, College of Health Sciences Irvine, Calif., December 21, 2006
Bailey will earn an annual base salary of $512,000. In keeping with UC policy, additional compensation will include health sciences compensation plan income, moving expenses, senior management benefits and eligibility for a Mortgage Origination Program loan.
Ping.
I hope they lose their jobs and licenses instantly.
It is amazing what some people today do.
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