RALEIGH, N.C. — Federal regulators have cited Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro for failure to investigate a case of abuse in a timely matter.

The finding was issued during a surprise inspection this week, Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Renee McCoy said.

In 2008, Cherry Hospital came under fire for a patient's death, criminal charges against employees and loss of federal funding.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revoked the Goldsboro facility's certification following the death of a patient who choked on medication and who before that had been left sitting in a chair unsupervised for nearly 24 hours.

The loss of certification meant the state couldn't be reimbursed for treating patients on Medicare or Medicaid.

The latest fine could also threaten the facility's ability to receive federal funds.

“Administrators at Cherry will work with CMS to provide a thorough plan of correction, the large part of that plan will include an outline and timeline for enhanced training of staff in the area of restrictive intervention with patients," McCoy said Saturday in statement.

McCoy said the investigation into the most recent abuse case was ongoing.