Oregon State Hospital ‘not in substantial compliance’ with requirements, federal officials say

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Oregon State Hospital has up to three months to implement a corrective plan for the concerns outlined by federal health coverage officials.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent its statement of deficiencies to the state psychiatric hospital on Friday.

The Oregon Health Authority reported that CMS placed the facility in immediate jeopardy status in June , after an in-custody death the prior month prompted authorities to review the hospital. Surveyors identified multiple issues involving patient viability checks.

OSH leaders then updated their approach to conducting and recording the hourly checks. The hospital was cleared from immediate jeopardy status in July.

“Hospital leaders and subject matter experts began work weeks ago related to visitor screening, visitation supervision, contraband mitigation and viability checks,” OSH spokesperson Amber Shoebridge told KOIN 6 in an email. “They will now formalize the efforts in a Plan of Correction and submit that to CMS within a week.”

The federal agency’s recent survey determined the facility was “not in substantial compliance” with regulations on Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement, its governing body, patient rights, nursing services and special provisions for psychiatric hospitals.

In addition to inadequate viability checks, CMS found that the hospital failed to properly screen and monitor in-person visitation, intercept drugs and other contraband, and “thoroughly investigate adverse events.”

The statement of deficiencies shows that a parent visited a patient on May 23, and the patient was pronounced dead the next day. According to the report, a fellow patient informed staff that the deceased individual had previously told them they received an item that may be drugs.

In an ensuing investigation , Oregon State Police seized a powder residue found near the deceased patient’s bed.

CMS is expected to conduct another survey of the state hospital after it approves the facility’s plan of correction.

If the federal agency determines the plan hasn’t been implemented, the hospital’s Medicare agreement could be terminated on Oct. 24.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.