CMS extended Tahlequah, Okla.-based W.W. Hastings Hospital's compliance deadline to Dec. 22 after a July survey found it was out of compliance in infection control, nursing services and medication administration practices, according to the Cherokee Phoenix.
The previous deadline was Oct. 31.
The deadline was extended due to CMS scheduling changes, and hospital officials are working with an outside consultant group to ensure all noncompliant findings are corrected, said Charles Grim, DDS, executive director of Cherokee Nation Health Services.
CMS' July survey was linked to an incident earlier this year when a nurse improperly administered medication through a reused syringe, potentially exposing 186 patients to HIV and hepatitis C. The son of Cherokee Nation's principal chief was later identified as the nurse in question.
Hospital officials submitted a plan of correction to CMS. "The Cherokee Nation remains confident in its plan approved by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, and looks forward to showing the agency our high quality of patient care and services during its visit," Dr. Grim said.
On Nov. 7, a CMS spokesperson said surveyors will make a surprise visit to the hospital before the new compliance deadline, indicating they had not visited the facility yet. "The results of that inspection will determine any future steps," the spokesperson said.