L.A. County Hospital Says It Is Ready for Inspection
Los Angeles County health officials on Tuesday submitted to CMS two plans detailing corrective measures that have been taken at Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital in response to patient care violations, the Los Angeles Times reports (Weber, Los Angeles Times, 7/12).
CMS regulators in June said emergency department patients at King-Harbor were in "immediate jeopardy" of harm or death.
CMS cited the hospital for violating the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act after a patient was left in the ED lobby on the floor for 45 minutes without care. The patient later died.
The hospital in August faces a federal inspection, which determines whether the facility will retain its state license and federal funding or close its doors (California Healthline, 6/22).
King-Harbor on Monday informed CMS that it was prepared for the inspection. Federal officials said they hope by Aug. 15 to issue a ruling on the matter (Los Angeles Times, 7/12).
The hospital since 2004 has failed to comply with CMS minimum patient care standards (California Healthline, 6/22).