2 patient deaths threaten federal funding for Wilson hospital

WRAL News obtained the inspection that led to the hospital being placed on immediate jeopardy status. That means the hospital can not be reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid for services unless corrective actions are taken and approved.

The inspection report says it received complaints about the three incidents, which occurred in January, March and April of 2022.

In the January incident, a patient hit his head in a fall that caused a brain injury. Investigators said the hospital failed to properly follow orders to conduct neurological exams, as well as notify physicians when the patient’s blood pressure rose. The patient died six days after being admitted.

In March, a patient was treated for fluid in the lungs. Inspectors say a nurse failed to reconnect a medical device to clear the lungs after being told about the issue by a medical technician. That patient also died.

The next month, inspectors say a patient with suicidal tendencies was admitted to the emergency department. Following an inspection in triage, the patient was sent back to the lobby because of a lack of available rooms. The patient then called the hospital from the emergency department bathroom expressing suicidal thoughts again, threatening to overdose on his medication. The hospital was cited for failing to monitor the patient and failure to perform a contraband search on a patient with suicidal thoughts.

A spokesperson for Wilson Medical Center tells WRAL News that the hospital has submitted a corrective action plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. According to the hospital, that plan has been approved, but an inspection still must take place by July 17 for the immediate jeopardy status to be removed.