Massachusetts Health and Human Services officials ordered Harrisburg, Pa.-based Hillcrest Women's Medical Center to suspend services after an inspection revealed multiple deficiencies and violations, according to a PennLive report.
DOH officials conducted an inspection of the medical center Monday. The agency released a statement Wednesday concluding, "it was no longer safe for the facility to continue providing medical services to patients" and "ordered the facility to suspend all services until … it can demonstrate it is safe for women to receive care," according to the report.
The agency previously conducted an inspection in February and found multiple insufficiencies, including failing to have a registered nurse onsite and record-keeping violations.
Officials said Monday's inspection showed the facility had addressed some of the previous violations, but had additional deficiencies, including expired sterilization and medical supplies.
Three state senators also sent a letter to the DOH questioning why the facility had been allowed to remain open despite incurring numerous violations during the February inspection.
A representative for the agency said the senators' letter "wasn't what triggered the department's order to the clinic to suspend service," according to the report. The spokesperson said the decision had been made beforehand.