University Hospital will not lose its Medicare funding after the hospital tightened its procedures for handling emergency patients who need extra security.
The March 11 incident involved a female patient who informed staff she had consumed 30 beers. She was supposed to be closely monitored by security personnel. Another patient who was also supposed to be closely monitored was reportedly seen sexually assaulting the first patient. As a result of a March 18 report that said the hospital failed to protect patients from abuse, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services threatened to cut funds.
The incident caused the hospital to assign a security officer to the emergency room and making monitoring security patients the officer’s main focus, according to the Courier Journal. Additionally, staff participated in education sessions on procedures for handling patients on security hold.
As a result of the changes, the Medicare informed officials that it won’t cut off Medicare funds.
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