Grady Memorial Deficiencies Persist After Second CMS Survey

Grady Memorial Hospital did not receive a clean bill of health following a full inspection survey of the facility, but it is no longer on life support. The Atlanta hospital has resolved serious deficiencies in patient rights and nursing services identified during an earlier survey by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and now faces no medical care issues. However, deficiencies remain in the broad category of physical environment.

John Haupert, the new Grady CEO, was notified of the continuing deficiencies in a November 14 letter from the CMS regional office in Atlanta. According to the letter, the latest findings mean the hospital still does not meet the CMS conditions of participation and, unless the deficiencies are resolved, faces termination of its federal Medicare contract effective January 25, 2012.

The 680-bed safety net hospital has until November 24 to develop a corrective action plan (CAP) to address the remaining deficiencies.

Haupert has some experience in contending with CMS surveys. He was formerly COO of the Dallas-based Parkland Memorial Hospital. Parkland and Dallas CMS officials recently signed an agreement to permit that hospital to remain open while it works to correct deficiencies.