Brookwood Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala., part of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, is at risk of losing its Medicare billing privileges after a CMS survey revealed the hospital was not in compliance with some Medicare requirements.
The survey found staff in the hospital's psychiatric unit used inappropriate restraint methods on several occasions. In one case, a patient suffered cardiac arrest after being restrained face down. Hospital workers were unable to resuscitate the patient.
The notice from CMS said Brookwood Baptist Medical Center's Medicare contract will be terminated May 31, unless the hospital corrects the issues identified in the survey. In most cases, hospitals correct the issues and avoid Medicare contract termination.
A Tenet spokesperson told Becker's Hospital Review Brookwood Baptist Medical Center submitted a plan of correction to CMS. The spokesperson said CMS is expected to perform a follow-up inspection by May 31 to determine the hospital's compliance with Medicare requirements.
More articles on healthcare quality:
Ebola workshop for health leaders set for August in Atlanta
Hospital bed shortages are 'trapping' mentally ill patients in EDs
Accounting errors could harm patient care, Indiana VA hospital manager says