Women’s Medical Group

• The facility’s quality improvement and assessment program was not adequate to assess the quality of care being provided at the center. This left no measurement for improvement. Assessing and improving the quality of care is paramount.
• A 15 year old patient came for an abortion and the staff failed to report the possible abuse of a minor, mandatory Minor Sexual Contact Report
• Failed to maintain a health record on the staff. This put all patients and staff at risk and exhibits a disregard for the welfare of patients and staff
• Staff did not have Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification, including a nurse and a doctor
• Staff did not know proper procedure to sterilize instruments that are used from woman to woman.
• The designated infection control officer was not qualified by training or experience to serve in this role. This clinic’s infection control policy was substandard
• The staff did not separate clean linen from dirty linen, so no way to tell if there was cross contamination
• The scrub area where the physician is supposed to wash his hands between procedures is in the instrument processing area where there may be tubing soaking in the sink when the physician washes his hands.
• The facility failed to decontaminate equipment that is soiled with blood between patients. The physician was cleaning the tubing between patients by sucking up water through the tubing, rather than sterilizing it or using new tubing.
• Expired medications were in use
• The facilities policies and procedures did not address all aspects of patient/staff care and safety.

2018-2019:

• The clinic’s Quality Assurance program did not include a response protocol to patient emergencies
• Repeat violation: The clinic staff did not maintain accurate and complete Medical Records of multiple patients
• Repeat Violation: Failed to maintain a health record on the staff. This put all patients and staff at risk and exhibits a disregard for the welfare of patients and staff
• Sterile medical supplies were stored in areas that could not be properly cleaned
• The clinic stocked needles that had expired in 2001
• Repeat violation: The staff did not properly sterilize instruments used from woman to woman
• Repeat violation: An exam room had expired medication inside a box marked “needles,” taped shut with blue paper tape
• There were no eye-washing stations in areas where employees were handling dangerous chemicals, which is an OSHA violation
• The facility had a broken plug receptacle (fire hazard).
• An alcohol-based hand sanitizer was mounted directly above an electrical outlet (fire hazard).
• Repeat violation: The staff lacked documentation of TB testing, putting patients at risk of exposure
• The heating pads used during care were not properly cleaned
• Food was stored in patient care areas
• Repeat violation: The staff did not properly wash soiled linens
• Repeat violation: The clinic management failed to maintain a Quality Assurance program to ensure responsible patient care and emergency protocols
• The clinic management failed to evaluate multiple employees’ job performances as mandated by law