OH hospital cited for security concerns

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services threatened this week to withhold Medicare payments beginning April 27, citing problems that it said pose an "immediate" threat to patients at Adena Regional Medical Center. The 261-bed hospital expects to meet federal requirements by improving staffing and procedures to address violations cited in a March 23 state investigation, said Sybil Miller, Adena spokeswoman. The investigation determined that a lack of security allowed an emergency-room patient to steal a nurse's identification card and wander through secured areas, stealing a laptop computer, drugs and supplies on Feb. 5. The survey also determined that some drugs and medical supplies were left unsecured.