Parkland, Department of State Health reach $1M settlement

The Department of State Health Services has fined Parkland Health & Hospital System $1 million for patient safety and quality-of-care deficiencies. A settlement agreement reached between Parkland and the state is the largest of its kind. It resolves and discharges all potential litigation and enforcement actions for compliance issues before May 31, 2012, according to a statement released by the hospital. Debbie Branson, chairwoman of the Parkland Board of Managers, said in a statement released by the hospital that the agreement with the state allows Parkland to focus on completing the changes spelled out in the Systems Improvement Agreement.