HospitalInspections.org

Based on review of 1 of 12 records sampled (Patients #1) and interviews the Medical Staff failed to conduct a thorough investigation and determine why a blood culture was not processed in the laboratory.

Findings include:

1.) The Emergency Department (ED) Record, dated 11/15/14 at 12:18 A.M. and 1:02 P.M., indicated Patient #1 had right ankle pain, swelling, and redness, a fever with a temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit and a 3-day history of right arm pain with fever.

2,) The ED Record, dated 11/15/14 at 1:30 P.M. indicated that a nurse obtained and sent to the laboratory a specimen of blood for culture. The ED Record, did not indicate a physician order for the blood culture.

3.) The Infectious Disease (ID) Consult, dated 11/18/14 at 6:29 P.M. indicated Patient #1 had a medical history of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA, type of bacteria) at 1 year of age one.

4.) The Surveyor interviewed Physician #3, (Chief Pediatric Quality Officer) and Physician #4 (Pediatric Quality Officer) on 4/27/15 at 2:00 P.M. Physician #3 and #4 said three Physicians reviewed Patient #1's care and discovered that although the ED Record indicated that a blood culture was obtained, the laboratory did not have results of that blood culture and they did not know why.