Accreditation

Rhode Island hospital fined after fifth wrong-site surgery in two years

Accreditation Connection, November 9, 2009

The Rhode Island Department of Health will fine Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, $150,000 after a surgeon operated on a patient's wrong finger last month, according to ABC News. Since 2007, five wrong-site surgeries have occurred, three of which were brain surgeries performed on the wrong location.

To prevent future wrong-site surgeries, RIH must install video cameras in all of its operating rooms and a clinical professional, not on the surgical team, trained in surgical safety measures, will observe all surgeries.

"This is now deemed inexcusable. It's a 'never to happen' occurrence in a hospital," Sidney Wolfe, MD, president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen said in an official statement.

To read more on the story, click here.

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