HospitalInspections.org

Based on review of State of Tennessee Standards for Hospitals, review of Tennessee Code Annotated, review of news reports, review of facility letters, review of the facility's internet home page, observations, and interviews, the facility failed to comply with regulations requiring notification of a disruption of patient services.

The findings included:

Refer to C 0152

Based on review of State of Tennessee Standards for Hospitals, review of Tennessee Code Annotated, review of news reports, review of facility letters, review of the facility's internet home page, observations, and interviews, the facility failed to comply with regulations requiring notification of a disruption of patient services.

The findings included:

Review of the State of Tennessee Standards for Hospitals, last revised October 2016, revealed "The hospital shall report the following incidents to the Department of Health in accordance with T.C.A. [Tennessee Code Annotated] 68-11-211...Disruption of any service vital to the continued safe operation of the hospital or to the health and safety of its patients and personnel..."

Review of the 2010 Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 211 revealed "...Each facility shall also report specific incidents, including, but not limited to, the following that might result in a disruption in the delivery of health care services at the facility within seven (7) days after the facility becomes aware of the incident...A disruption of any service vital to the continued safe operation of the facility or to the health and safety of its patients and personnel..."

Review of an online news article dated 5/9/17 revealed "...The inpatient services at Copper Basin Medical Center are temporarily closed...The CFO [Chief Financial Officer] said they just don't have the money to continue all services at the hospital. Over 15 nurses were let go from their positions. Some of them are still waiting for paychecks...The temporary suspension to the inpatient care was a surprise to much of the staff...[Board Member] said they are in a financial crisis. He said over the last few years funds have been mismanaged, and the hospital didn't collect the debt from patient's accounts. But the lack of funds is stopping them from providing some services to the community...Our emergency room is still open. We still do x-rays...we do everything. The only thing we don't do at this time is inpatient...build up some reserve to reopen the inpatient unit by October 1st..."

Review of a letter from the facility to the State of Tennessee Division of Health Licensure and Regulations dated 5/24/17 revealed "...Please allow this letter to serve as formal notification that inpatient services...have been temporarily suspended, effective May 8, 2017..."

Review of the facility internet web page on 5/31/17 revealed "...We have had to suspend inpatient operations; we hope for a few short months, in order to obtain working capital (cash). The next 45 days will be our most critical period for survival of Copper Basin Medical Center. We have endured needed staff reductions and are critically short on supplies..."

Observations of the facility on 5/31/17 and 6/1/17 revealed no inpatient services were offered or provided. All inpatient rooms, including swing beds, were empty during the survey.

Interview with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) on 5/31/17 at 2:00 PM, in the CNO's office, confirmed the facility suspended inpatient services on 5/8/17 and the facility was not admitting any observation patients or swing bed patients.

Interview with the facility's Executive Assistant on 5/31/17 at 2:05 PM, in the CNO's office, confirmed the facility had not notified the State of Tennessee Department of Health of the suspension of inpatient services until 5/24/17 (16 days later) and the facility did not notify the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services or The Joint Commission of the suspension of inpatient services until 5/26/17 (18 days later). Continued interview confirmed the facility failed to notify the State of Tennessee within 7 days of a disruption of patient care services.

Interview with the facility's Chief Executive Officer on 5/31/17 at 2:25 PM, in the CNO's office, confirmed the facility suspended inpatient services on 5/8/17.

Based on review of news reports, review of facility letters, review of the facility's internet home page, review of the Emergency Department (ED) Log, observations, and interviews, the facility failed to provide required acute care inpatient services.

The findings included:

Refer to C 0281

Based on review of news reports, review of facility letters, review of the facility's internet home page, review of the Emergency Department (ED) Log, observations, and interviews, the facility failed to provide required acute care inpatient services.

The findings included:

Review of an online news article dated 5/9/17 revealed "...The inpatient services at Copper Basin Medical Center are temporarily closed...The CFO [Chief Financial Officer] said they just don't have the money to continue all services at the hospital. Over 15 nurses were let go from their positions. Some of them are still waiting for paychecks...The temporary suspension to the inpatient care was a surprise to much of the staff...[Board Member] said they are in a financial crisis. He said over the last few years funds have been mismanaged, and the hospital didn't collect the debt from patient's accounts. But the lack of funds is stopping them from providing some services to the community...Our emergency room is still open. We still do x-rays...We do everything. The only thing we don't do at this time is inpatient...build up some reserve to reopen the inpatient unit by October 1st..."

Review of a letter from the facility to the State of Tennessee Division of Health Licensure and Regulations dated 5/24/17 revealed "...Please allow this letter to serve as formal notification that inpatient services...have been temporarily suspended, effective May 8, 2017..."

Review of the facility internet web page on 5/31/17 revealed "...We have had to suspend inpatient operations; we hope for a few short months, in order to obtain working capital (cash). The next 45 days will be our most critical period for survival of Copper Basin Medical Center. We have endured needed staff reductions and are critically short on supplies..."

Review of the ED log from 5/9/17 (day after suspension of inpatient services) to 5/31/17 revealed the facility saw and treated 255 patients in the ED, transferred 16 patients to other facilities, and no patients were admitted to the facility.

Observations of the facility on 5/31/17 and 6/1/17 revealed no inpatient services were offered or provided. All inpatient rooms, including swing beds, were empty during the survey.

Interview with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) on 5/31/17 at 2:00 PM, in the CNO's office, confirmed the facility suspended inpatient services on 5/8/17 and the facility was not admitting any observation patients or swing bed patients.

Interview with the facility's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on 5/31/17 at 2:25 PM, in the CNO's office confirmed the facility failed to provide inpatient services.