Central Regional faces new troubles

Raleigh, N.C. — Surveyors visiting Central Regional Hospital in Butner this week found the state psychiatric facility does not meet federal standards that allow it to be reimbursed for treating patients on Medicare and Medicaid.

Director Mike Hennike said Friday afternoon that inspectors working on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told him that they found the hospital's fall prevention policy – designed to prevent unintentional falls by patients – was not being followed the same way throughout the hospital.

The surveyors were at the hospital this week conducting a follow-up visit regarding previous safety issues that placed the hospital in jeopardy of losing the federal funding.

All those issues have been corrected and now meet CMS regulations, Hennike said.

Hennike said that after the hospital receives the official written report from CMS about the latest violation, it will submit a corrective action plan to demonstrate how the fall prevention policy will consistently be followed throughout the facility.

Once CMS accepts the hospital’s plan, surveyors will conduct another unannounced visit.

Surveyors also investigated five complaints at Broughton Hospital, another state psychiatric facility in Morganton, that were found to be unsubstantiated, the state Department of Health and Human Services said.