An ear, nose and throat specialist present in the New York City-based Yorkville Endoscopy operating room where Joan Rivers was undergoing an endoscopic procedure on her vocal cords did not have privileges to practice at that clinic, according to a report from The New York Times.
Prior to the procedure, Ms. Rivers' gastroenterologist brought the unnamed ENT physician in to the OR, where she examined Ms. Rivers both before and after the gastroenterologist performed an upper endoscopy, according to the report. The Daily News reported that the ENT also performed a vocal cord biopsy on Ms. Rivers, though the clinic denies the procedure was performed.
According to sources who have chosen to remain anonymous due to potential litigation issues, the ENT physician was not identified as a physician when she entered the clinic, and subsequently the OR. One staff member said it was assumed she was a makeup artist there to prepare Ms. Rivers for leaving the clinic after the procedure, according to the report.
Neither physician has been accused of wrongdoing by the New York State Department of Health.
Credentialing and privileging are consistently problematic for ambulatory organizations, according to The Joint Commission and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, both organizations which list the associated standards as those most-often scored as partially compliant or noncompliant for ASCs.
Update: Leonard Cohen, MD, is no longer medical director of or performing procedures at Yorkville Endoscopy, according to a report from Buzzfeed. According to the article, a source told ABC News that Dr. Cohen was suspended for bringing the unauthorized ENT into Ms. Rivers' surgery.
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Prior to the procedure, Ms. Rivers' gastroenterologist brought the unnamed ENT physician in to the OR, where she examined Ms. Rivers both before and after the gastroenterologist performed an upper endoscopy, according to the report. The Daily News reported that the ENT also performed a vocal cord biopsy on Ms. Rivers, though the clinic denies the procedure was performed.
According to sources who have chosen to remain anonymous due to potential litigation issues, the ENT physician was not identified as a physician when she entered the clinic, and subsequently the OR. One staff member said it was assumed she was a makeup artist there to prepare Ms. Rivers for leaving the clinic after the procedure, according to the report.
Neither physician has been accused of wrongdoing by the New York State Department of Health.
Credentialing and privileging are consistently problematic for ambulatory organizations, according to The Joint Commission and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, both organizations which list the associated standards as those most-often scored as partially compliant or noncompliant for ASCs.
Update: Leonard Cohen, MD, is no longer medical director of or performing procedures at Yorkville Endoscopy, according to a report from Buzzfeed. According to the article, a source told ABC News that Dr. Cohen was suspended for bringing the unauthorized ENT into Ms. Rivers' surgery.
More articles on Joan Rivers:
Joan Rivers' situation could happen at your surgery center — How to make sure it doesn't
How will Joan Rivers' death impact public view of of outpatient anesthesia, surgery?
Outpatient surgery undergoes intense scrutiny following Joan Rivers' death