HospitalInspections.org

This deficiency remains cited (re-cite).
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Based on observation and staff interview, it was determined the hospital failed to ensure patient medical records were stored in such a way to protect them from water damage. The hospital census was 114.

Findings include:

Observations were made of the Medical Records Department on 2/24/2010 in the afternoon with the Life Safety Code surveyor and on 2/25/2010 at 2:10PM with the Health surveyor, the building manager and the Accreditation Coordinator. The four large, metal racks of patient medical records (in paper form) were observed stored directly under three sprinkler heads. The metal racks were open in the front. There was no protective cover or other means in place to protect the patient medical records from water damage/destruction in the event of activation of the sprinkler system.

Interview with the Accreditation Coordinator confirmed on 2/25/2010 at 2:10PM that two years of patient medical records were kept in the medical record department. There is no backup (scanned/xeroxed,etc.) copies of the patient records. The Accreditation Coordinator stated she is waiting on a response to the hospital's request for a variance from CMS for this requirement due to financial hardship and the pending conversion to a digital format.