SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says action to terminate a contract with Mercy Hospital in Springfield has been rescinded.
The hospital achieved compliance. Mercy still has not received the official word yet, but this latest announcement certainly looks good for the hospital.
This all stemmed from that indepth patient abuse investigation that resulted in several people being terminated and sweeping changes to certain aspects of patient care. As we have reported for weeks, the funding deadline from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services passed on November 5. The Missouri State Survey Agency revisited Mercy earlier this month.
Mercy never stopped taking Medicare or Medicaid patients throughout the investigation.
In a statement to KY3, Mercy said “Our caregivers and co-workers have worked extremely hard to address concerns identified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Co-workers have completed hours of hands-on training in handling tense situations. That education will continue on a regular basis, along with the utilization of co-workers who are specially trained in advanced de-escalation techniques. In addition, the hospital is making changes to its Department of Public Safety, including new uniforms that are more welcoming and plans for additional phones that connect immediately with Public Safety dispatch. As always, we are committed to providing our patients high quality, compassionate care.”