Patient death draws renewed CMS scrutiny at HCA’s Mission Hospital

 CMS told Becker’s it is aware of a reported patient death by suicide at Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C., part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, which in January was placed in immediate jeopardy for the fourth time since 2019.  

On May 21, a patient under an involuntary commitment order died by suicide inside the hospital’s emergency room “Red Pod,” a unit with trauma bays for critical patients that can also serve psychiatric patients, after the individual was brought in by law enforcement, the Asheville Watchdog reported May 26. 

In response to the incident, hospital leadership circulated updated safety protocols requiring one-to-one monitoring for all patients under involuntary commitment orders until suicide risk assessments are completed. Staff were also instructed to alert emergency department leadership if a sitter is not present or if concerning items are found in a patient’s room. 

Surveyors for CMS were reported to be at Mission Hospital on May 26, according to the Watchdog. 

The incident comes months after regulators cited the facility for multiple patient care and safety deficiencies during a January CMS survey. The agency’s findings included deficiencies tied to two patient deaths, failures to properly isolate infectious diseases and concerns about staffing levels in the hospital’s behavioral health units.

Mission Hospital submitted an enhanced plan of correction after the survey concluded Jan. 9. CMS accepted the revised plan Feb. 2. Federal regulators lifted the immediate jeopardy status at Mission Hospital, CEO Greg Lowe, said in a March 4 memo to staff. 

While the immediate jeopardy status was lifted, the hospital has been under enhanced monitoring since January, the Watchdog reported. According to a Feb. 27 CMS letter, the hospital remained out of compliance with Medicare conditions of participation, including requirements surrounding patients rights, nursing services, and infection prevention and control. The hospital has until July 29 to achieve substantial compliance or it could face termination of its Medicare provider agreement. 

In a May 27 statement, CMS told Becker’s the hospital “remains under enhanced monitoring.” Alongside its required plan of correction, the hospital committed to additional measures aimed at addressing broader quality and patient safety concerns.

“CMS will continue to closely monitor and assess the hospital’s compliance with federal requirements and evaluate the implementation of corrective actions,” a spokesperson said. “The agency will take additional action as necessary to promote patient safety.”

HCA said in a statement shared with Becker’s: “The loss of any patient is heartbreaking and traumatic for all involved. Our teams regularly review protocols with the intent to improve care, always. Additionally, we report to regulatory agencies when appropriate.”

The designation marked Mission Hospital’s third immediate jeopardy citation in the last two years and its fourth since HCA acquired the hospital in 2019. 

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/patient-safety-outcomes/patient-death-draws-renewed-cms-scrutiny-at-hcas-mission-hospital/