Grady Memorial Deficiencies Persist After Second CMS Survey

According to the 12-page survey report released late Tuesday by CMS, the remaining problems are mostly violations of fire codes, including blocked exits, aging sprinklers, the use of unauthorized space heaters, smoke barriers that don't meet fire resistance standards, and open electrical boxes.

In a telephone interview, Haupert told HealthLeaders Media that Grady has already resolved all issues related to the physical environment deficiency and will include that information in the CAP the hospital must file before Thanksgiving. CMS is required to perform a third survey to confirm that the problems have been fixed.

Haupert, who had been on the job less than a week when the first survey was conducted, estimates that the hospital has spent about $2 million on staffing and the building improvements necessary to correct the deficiencies identified in the first and second surveys.

The Grady Memorial inspections are related to the September death of a female patient who jumped from her 11th-floor hospital room window. The patient was not supposed to be left alone, but on the night of her death her unit was understaffed and no paid sitters were available.