Sept. 29, 2008 — A review is underway by the a leading national authority on certifying and accrediting health-care facilities into possible violations of accreditation standards at the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas.
The Joint Commission review is the result of "a complaint" that prompted a two-day, unannounced survey of the hospital on Sept. 25 and 26, according to Joint Commission spokesman Ken Powers.
Powers could not confirm Monday whether the survey included the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute (CKCI), but a statement released Sept. 25 by hospital spokesman Sam Topp said, "It is my understanding that the team will survey CKCI tomorrow."
Unannounced surveys occur when cause has been established, Powers said.
"When the Joint Commission receives any complaint, it goes through a clinical analysis internally," Powers said. "So, depending on how (complaints are) analyzed and their impact on patient safety, they may result in an unannounced survey."
Powers would not disclose whether there was one or more than one complaint. However, in his statement, Topp suggested there was more than one complaint. In addition, Topp's statement enumerated several areas of concern, while the Joint Commission spokesman specified only one.
Topp's statement said the Joint Commission's for-cause survey was to "review complaint allegations related to":
— ethics, rights and responsibilities;
— provision of care;
— treatment and services;
— medication management;
— improving organization performance;
— leadership;
— management of the environment of care;
— management of human resources; and
— management of information."
The Joint Commission spokesman said only that the survey by the inspection team was relevant to "the leadership chapter in the accreditation manual." Powers declined to elaborate on the more expansive list provided by Topp. Powers and Topp both declined to say whether the investigation into leadership issues was related to the recent firings of two hospital executives.
On Sept. 5, the V.I. Hospitals and Health Facilities Corp. joint board of directors voted to fire Chief Executive Officer Amos Carty Jr. and Chief Financial Officer Peter Najawicz, who had been implicated in alleged financial mismanagement. To date, no charges have resulted. (See "Hospitals Board Puts Carty, Najawicz on Leave.")
Powers said it would take "a couple weeks" to complete the review process and provide the hospital with a report.
"At that time," Powers continued, "if there are areas for improvement, the organization would have to clarify that they are in compliance with any findings, or would have to demonstrate evidence that they are coming into compliance."
While surveyors arrive at a facility with a particular focus, Powers said, they are able to broaden their investigation should any other concerns come to their attention during the course of their investigation.
The survey "focused on all quality and safety issues related to patient care," according to a hospital statement. "The team inspected all patient-care areas of the hospital and assessed the overall environment of care for compliance with health-care industry life-safety codes."
Powers would not discuss whether the investigators' focus extended to other areas or what, if any, evidence the investigators gathered during their survey.
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