Hopkins County Memorial Hospital Administrator Michael McAndrew said the hospital’s meeting with representatives of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or CMS, went well. Representing the hospital were McAndrew, Chief Nursing Officer Terri Bunch, Austin lawyers Kevin Reed and Trent Krienke with the RCMH Lawfirm in Austin, Chief of Staff Dr. Scott McDearmont and Chief Medical Officer Chris Gallagher. McAndrew felt the CMS representatives listened to what hospital personnel had to say such as the importance of the hospital to the community and the steps taken to correct problems found, most of them done before the surveyors had left. McAndrew said almost all the areas of shortcomings had been completed now. McAndrew said CMS was told of the great staff at Memorial Hospital committed to care of patients.
He said the CMS report noted potential for harm of patients but McAndrew said no patient was harmed. Hospital lawyers told McAndrew hospital staff did a great job presenting their case. They added CMS seemed willing to listen and were open to alternatives other than terminating the hospital’s agreement for Medicare and Medicaid.
McAndrew said he expected to hear something definitive by either Friday or Monday at the latest.
See survey results and response here
See KSST General Manager Jim Rogers editorial comments here
