Inspectors back at Central Regional Hospital

RALEIGH, N.C. — Surveyors working on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services returned to the state's newest psychiatric hospital Wednesday morning for a follow-up visit.

Central Regional Hospital, which opened last summer, was in immediate jeopardy of losing federal reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid. Part of the reason officials had cited was failing to provide care in a safe environment and to prevent patient abuse and neglect at both its Butner facility and its Raleigh facility, formerly known as Dorothea Dix Hospital.

Central had until Dec. 14 to correct issues found during a November site survey, including the inappropriate restraint of a patient. The hospital also had to correct several deficiencies that did not affect its ability to receive federal funding.

This week's visit is to ensure the facilities have been implementing a CMS-approved corrective action plan that removed Central from its immediate jeopardy status.