Court report cites risks at 'Ewa, Liliha hospitals
Advertiser Staff
A court-appointed patient ombudsman has raised concerns about some areas of care being provided at Hawaii Medical Center's two hospitals.
Ombudsman Dianne Okumura said she had concerns about the potential for serious harm in the care of hemodialysis patients, the lack of adequate and timely response to patient call bells, as well as practices in the hospitals' surgical and recovery suites.
The ombudsman's report is part of the on-going bankruptcy proceedings of Hawaii Medical Center, which took over the former St. Francis Medical Centers in 'Ewa and Liliha in January 2007 and filed for bankruptcy reorganization in August. Okumura was appointed to determine the quality of care being provided.
She reported:
Hawaii Medical Center released a statement saying it believed patients have not experienced undue risk.
It said when hemodialysis patients were in emergency rooms they received appropriate treatment and that long response times by nurses aren't uncommon in hospitals. It said it is working on improving this.
Hawaii Medical Center said patients receive appropriate specialty services and that it consistently takes measures to ensure patient care meets national standards. As for sterilization practices, the hospitals follow strict infection control practices and that it was purchasing more equipment.
