Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/981659
17 INFECTION CONTROL & PATIENT SAFETY Lawsuit alleges DC hospital's ongoing sewage leaks, infection control issues contributed to patient's death By Alyssa Rege T he family of a former patient filed a lawsuit March 15 against Washington, D.C.-based MedStar Washington Hos- pital Center, stating the hospital's infection control problems contributed to the death of a 70-year-old female patient last year, according to USA Today. Carol Leonard, 70, underwent thyroid sur- gery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in February 2017 — a procedure hospital officials said was so routine, she would be discharged within the next day or so, the report stated. However, Ms. Leonard reportedly died within a week of the surgery from a sepsis infection. e lawsuit, filed by Ms. Leon- ard's family, cited infection control issues and ongoing sewage leaks in the hospital's operating rooms among the "continual onslaught of substandard care" Ms. Leonard received while she was being treated at the hospital, according to the report. e lawsuit also raised questions about officials' decision not to provide Ms. Leonard with antibiotics despite having been aware of the hospital's infection risks. USA Today reported Ms. Leonard's surgery took place roughly six months aer D.C. health officials released a report in August 2016 detailing "black water" sewage leaks in multiple ORs. Health officials returned to the hospital Aug. 18, 2017, and found the hospital still suffered from sewage issues, according to the report. e 2016 report showed CMS placed the hospital in "immediate jeopardy" of losing its Medicare and Medicaid funding because of its failure to protect patients from the ongoing infection control issues. If a hospital receives the "immediate jeopardy" status, CMS may terminate the hospital's accred- itation if it does not meet the deadline for compliance. MedStar Washington Hospital Center received the "immediate jeopardy" status and submitted a plan for correction Aug. 18, 2017. CMS removed the designation Aug. 21, according to the report. A spokesperson for MedStar Washing- ton Hospital Center told USA Today the institution would not comment on the Leonard family's pending lawsuit, but stated, "MedStar Washington Hospital Center has not experienced any new leaks, and we have completed all of the physical plant work identified in our 2017 action plan. … We are very sorry for the Leonard family's loss." n Better Patient Outcomes Start with Better Disinfection Products Trust SteraMist™ to Deliver the Best Contact us at www.tomimist.com Learn More about the first EPA Registered Solution + Equipment combination utilizing the unique technology of iHP™!