Federal investigators cited Exeter (N.H.) Hospital for infection control deficiencies following a major outbreak of hepatitis C that is now being investigated in two other states, according to a Foster's Daily Democrat report.
David Matthew Kwiatkowski, a traveling technician who worked at Exeter Hospital, currently faces federal drug charges for allegedly injecting himself with the anesthetic fentanyl and refilling the syringes with saline before administering the injections to patients. So far, dozens of Exeter patients have tested positive for hepatitis C and hospitals in Pennsylvania and Michigan who also previously employed Mr. Kwiatkowski are testing patients.
Following news of the outbreak, CMS surveyors conducted a full review of the hospital and found widespread deficiencies related to patient safety and infection control, including:
• Failure to maintain supervision over narcotics
• Failure to properly clean and disinfect glucometers between patient use
• Failure by employees to properly don hospital gowns as a standard precaution
• Failure to bar employees with open wounds from working near invasive procedures
• Failure to employ an infection control officer
• Failure to maintain physical plant, specifically ceiling tiles
Exeter Hospital must submit a plan of action to correct all deficiencies before a follow-up survey. The hospital may lose its Medicare status if its fails to meet federal standards for quality and patient safety.
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David Matthew Kwiatkowski, a traveling technician who worked at Exeter Hospital, currently faces federal drug charges for allegedly injecting himself with the anesthetic fentanyl and refilling the syringes with saline before administering the injections to patients. So far, dozens of Exeter patients have tested positive for hepatitis C and hospitals in Pennsylvania and Michigan who also previously employed Mr. Kwiatkowski are testing patients.
Following news of the outbreak, CMS surveyors conducted a full review of the hospital and found widespread deficiencies related to patient safety and infection control, including:
• Failure to maintain supervision over narcotics
• Failure to properly clean and disinfect glucometers between patient use
• Failure by employees to properly don hospital gowns as a standard precaution
• Failure to bar employees with open wounds from working near invasive procedures
• Failure to employ an infection control officer
• Failure to maintain physical plant, specifically ceiling tiles
Exeter Hospital must submit a plan of action to correct all deficiencies before a follow-up survey. The hospital may lose its Medicare status if its fails to meet federal standards for quality and patient safety.
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