CMS has launched an investigation into St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., following a CNN report published in early June that claimed the hospital's pediatric heart surgery mortality rate was considerably higher than the national average.
The CNN report obtained data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons on 109 hospitals that revealed 60 hospitals fail to report pediatric heart surgery mortality rate.
The news network also detailed the deaths and complications of numerous babies that had undergone a heart procedure at St. Mary's which, according to CNN, has a mortality rate for open heart surgery, three times the national average.
"We take these allegations very seriously," said a CMS official in an emailed statement. "CMS is actively investigating these complaints."
To watch the CNN story and read the full report, click here.
More articles on pediatric news:
Valley Children's, Stanford partner to launch pediatric residency
CNN: Hospitals lack transparency regarding pediatric heart surgery
8 reads for pediatricians