The information below comes from the statement of deficiencies compiled by health inspectors and provided to AHCJ by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It does not include the steps the hospital plans to take to fix the problem, known as a plan of correction. For that information, you should contact the hospital, your state health department or CMS. Accessing the document may require you to file a Freedom of Information Request. Information on doing so is available here.

COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 71 PROSPECT AVENUE HUDSON, NY 12534 Nov. 22, 2021
VIOLATION: INFECTION CONTROL OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES Tag No: A0749
Based on observation, interview, and record review the environmental services department (EVS) failed to implement techniques for cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces and reprocessing textiles.

Findings:
- While observing cleaning of emergency department patient care areas, waiting rooms, and bathrooms on 11/3/2021 during the morning facility tour, Department of Health survey staff observed the used toilet brush stored on top of the EVS cart aside clean towels and personal protective equipment (PPE). The placement of the toilet brush on top of the EVS cart risks cross contamination of the clean items with fecal matter.

-The Director of Environmental Services was interviewed during the 11/3/2021 morning tour of the emergency department and questioned about the cleaning of privacy curtains around the emergency department patient care cubicles. He stated that there is no scheduled laundering of privacy curtains.

-Hospital policies and procedures were reviewed by survey staff off site on 11/22/2021. Review of the hospital policy and procedure entitled "emergency room Cleaning," effective date: 12/18, indicates that the walls, windows and exteriors of closets are to be cleaned with the cloths and germicidal solution. These items are located on the top of the EVS cart next to the toilet brush. The hospital policy and procedure for cleaning also lacked a requirement or schedule for the cleaning of privacy curtains around patient cubicles. Failure to launder privacy curtains is associated with transmission of infections.