A patient incurred minor injuries at Portland, Ore.-based OHSU Hospital after a fire broke out in an operating room in Demember, a spokesperson confirmed to Becker's in a Jan. 26 statement. The incident prompted a CMS investigation and a corrective plan from the hospital. The news was first reported by NBC affiliate KGW8.
On Jan. 18, CMS surveyors conducted an investigation and found noncompliance issues at the site of the incident, according to the hospital's statement. A day later, CMS assigned the site "Immediate Jeopardy" status, which required immediate action to correct the issues. The hospital developed a plan the same day to address the noncompliant items, which was approved and validated by CMS on Jan. 23, lifting the "Immediate Jeopardy" status.
It's unclear how the fire broke out, though OHSU's corrective plan included clarifying policies on the use of high-flow oxygen during surgical preparation, and on instructions for using cautery equipment and ChloraPrep, an antiseptic, according to the KGW8 report.
"CMS will continue to monitor implementation of OHSU's plan for long-term, sustained resolution," OHSU said in an email to Becker's. "At OHSU, the safety of our patients and members is our top priority, and it is deeply concerning to all involved any time there is risk of harm. OHSU actively works to prevent any instance in which patient or member safety may be compromised through both proactive and responsive measures, including reporting systems and ongoing improvement initiatives."