HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation and interview, it was determined the facility failed to meet the statutory requirements of operating as a hospital.

The findings include:

On January 13, 2020 at 09:45 a.m., surveyors met with Staff Member #1 and Staff Member #2 and the reason for the visit, to perform a Hospital Recertification survey, was stated. A request for a tour of the facility was made.

The discussion continued and included Staff Member #3. Halquist Memorial Inpatient Center, according to Staff Member #3, "is licensed as a hospital but is only a hospice. In 1982, Halquist was given a license for a hospital and hospice. It is a hospital under hospice regulations. They never changed the license. The regulations changed in the 1980's and Halquist was grandfathered in." Staff Member #3 further explained, "We are a hospice, not a hospital. If you go and check all the CoP's we will fail on everything for a hospital, except the structure of the building."

Staff Member #1 then provided a tour of the facility that revealed there are fifteen (15) beds that are designated for use for "hospice patients only." Staff Member #1 stated they must meet the "established criteria of being a hospice patient in order to be admitted to one of the beds."

During a telephone conversation on January 13, 2020, Staff Member #3 advised the facility only operates and bills under the hospice provider number (49-1500). The hospital provider number is not used at all. When asked regarding the last time the facility treated a hospital patient, Staff Member #3 advised we have "never" treated a hospital patient.