The executive, who left the organization in March, alleges her termination was tied to her complaints over 'substandard medical care' at the hospital.
Barb McQuillan, BSN, RN, was chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of Sparrow Carson Hospital in Carson City, Michigan, until her departure from the organization was announced in March without explanation.
McQuillan's departure, which came less than a month after the hospital's chief executive officer left over infection concerns, is now the subject of a whistleblower lawsuit in which she claims she was fired for reporting quality concerns at the facility, the Lansing State Journal reported Monday.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services threatened to revoke federal funding for Sparrow Carson's services in February after investigators found ongoing infection control problems in the facility.
Here are the key claims raised in McQuillan's suit:
- McQuillan alleges she reported "suspected substandard medical care and treatment" by J. David Spencer, DO, FACOOG, at Sparrow Carson. Spencer allegedly performed multiple procedures last year with "negative incidents" other healthcare workers documented and reported.
- Despite the incidents, the hospital's Lansing-based medical staff allegedly "without hesitation" allowed Spencer to continue performing surgeries.
- During an elective tubal-ligation in December or January, one of Spencer's patients allegedly lost 13.5 ounces (400 cubic centimeters) of blood.
- McQuillan claims she pushed for Spencer to be blocked from performing additional surgeries and that Spencer's elective privileges were suspended a few days later.
- McQuillan claims she thanked then-CEO Matthew Thompson for the action taken against Spencer then asked for more. "He's all we've got," Thompson allegedly replied, repeatedly.
- In a separate incident, last September or October, a 58-year-old man came to the emergency department with appendicitis, then allegedly sat untreated for eight hours or more.
- McQuillan claims she was excluded from a Root Cause Analysis review process, despite following up on the matter repeatedly.
- McQuillan claims her employment was terminated because of her legally protected work to push for quality controls and improvement at the hospital.
- Additionally, McQuillan accuses the hospital of a public policy violation (in case the court determines the whistleblower law does not apply).
Sparrow Carson declined the Journal's request for comment, citing the pending litigation.
The suit was filed in the Circuit Court for Ingham County, where the hospital is located.
Steven Porter is an associate content manager and Strategy editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.