Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1161749
54 CMO / CARE DELIVERY San Francisco hospital CEO resigns amid patient abuse scandal By Mackenzie Bean H ealth officials allege six staff members systematically abused patients at a San Francisco hospital between 2016 and 2019, reported the San Francisco Chronicle. e San Francisco Department of Public Health launched an investigation of the Lagu- na Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in February. e city-run hospital serves as a live-in care facility for 780 patients. Health officials on June 28 said that 23 pa- tients allegedly endured physical and verbal abuse from six staff members. e investi- gation revealed staff members took inap- propriate pictures and images of the alleged patient abuse, which they sent to each other via text message. Some patients also received non-prescription drugs for sedation purpos- es, the health department said. "e San Francisco Department of Public Health and Laguna Honda Hospital have no tolerance for the mistreatment of residents," San Francisco Director of Health Grant Col- fax, MD, said in a June 28 statement on the hospital's website. "In response to our find- ings, we have immediately taken steps to en- sure patient wellness and safety." e six employees accused of the abuse have been fired, and administrators from Zucker- berg San Francisco General Hospital are tem- porarily managing the hospital. Laguna Honda CEO Mivic Hirose, RN, has also resigned. Maggie Rykowski, the health department's chief integrity officer and di- rector of the Office of Compliance and Pri- vacy Affairs, will act as interim CEO until a replacement is found. e health department also said the hospital's chief of quality man- agement has been placed on administrative leave and will not return. n Erlanger VP resigns over patient safety concerns: 'I can no longer in good conscience remain in my role' By Mackenzie Bean E rlanger Health System's vice president of patient safety and quality resigned July 12 amid serious patient safety and care quality concerns at the Chattanooga, Tenn.-based system, reported the Times Free Press. "I can no longer in good faith and good conscience remain in my role," Pam Gordon said in a July 1 resignation letter obtained by the Times Free Press. "This has caused me health issues and many sleepless nights," she continued. "I am leaving employment to seek other oppor- tunities that better align my professional passion and skillset." Ms. Gordon worked at Erlanger for two and a half years. Her de- parture comes nearly three months after the system's medical executive committee sent a letter to Erlanger's board of trustees, citing concerns over operational and patient safety issues. The medical staff issued a no-confidence vote directed at several ex- ecutive leaders. In a statement to the Times Free Press, Erlanger said its exter- nal care quality and patient safety scores have "objectively im- proved" under Ms. Gordon's leadership. "We do wish Ms. Gordon well in her new position and look forward to evaluating and assessing this important role at our health system," the hospital said. n Second Ben Taub patient found dead in bathroom By Mackenzie Bean A second patient was found dead in a bath- room at Houston-based Ben Taub Hospital after waiting for emergency care, according to the Houston Chronicle. The death occurred July 16, just three months after staff members found a 66-year-old patient unre- sponsive with no pulse in an emergency department bathroom. Ben Taub reported the second death to CMS and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission July 19. "Incidents like this should never happen," George Masi, president and CEO of Houston-based Har- ris Health System, which operates Ben Taub, said in a statement to the Houston Chronicle. "It is our responsibility to learn from them, and to constant- ly make improvements in our processes to ensure Harris Health fulfills our mission of caring for those most in need. We are fully committed to that effort, whatever it takes." Mr. Masi said Ben Taub investigated the death and immediately implemented "additional risk reduction strategies" to ensure patient safety. n