Troubles continue for Calhoun Liberty Hospital in Blountstown, Fla. After an Agency for Health Care Administration investigation revealed 10 deficiencies with its patient care, emergency services and risk management program, the hospital was ordered to submit a plan of correction, a plan that has since been rejected by the AHCA, according to Tallahassee Democrat.
AHCA officials wrote a four-page letter to Ruth Attaway, Calhoun Liberty's CEO, saying the plan of correction included "several unreadable pages" and failed to "specify numerous aspects of its plan." The state agency is currently seeking $45,000 in fines against the hospital.
Although the plan pledged medical staff would re-examine patients based on changes in conditions, offer medical screening exams and file incident reports, the AHCA contends the hospital must provide details on planned trainings and how the hospital will track improvements in assessing and reassessing patients.
Assessing and reassessing patients is just one of the areas AHCA found Calhoun Liberty failed in the case of Barbara Dawson, a patient whose death in December made national headlines after a police dash-cam captured audio and video of her being arrested and forcibly removed from the facility by police.
Ms. Attaway responded to the AHCA's rejection of the plan, telling the Tallahassee Democrat "I am frustrated. I'm discouraged, but we will meet their demands. Whatever they require of us, we will make it happen."
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