UNC Hospitals placed on probation by accrediting group

UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill recently received a preliminary denial of accreditation by the Joint Commission, an organization that routinely reviews hospitals, after inspectors identified a number of areas that didn't pass.

UNC Health Care officials didn't provide details on the deficiencies found, but spokesman Alan Wolf said the flagship hospital took immediate action and continues to operate.

New standards that went into effect July 1 were the main issue, Wolf said, and hospital officials are awaiting another inspection, which could come as early as next week.

"To be clear: There was no finding of any immediate threats to patient health and safety," he said in an email to WRAL News.

"Leadership of UNC Hospitals is confident that we have addressed all of the Joint Commission’s findings and will be removed from the preliminary denial of accreditation status," Wolf added in a statement. "We are committed to continuous quality improvement, and working with the Joint Commission is just one part of that ongoing effort."

The accreditation is the latest in a series of issues at UNC Hospitals this summer.