Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown has been removed from Immediate Jeopardy status after federal regulators reviewed and validated corrective measures following a medication error.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) validated the corrective measures on September 16, according to Ascension Saint Thomas. The action removes the Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) status and allows the hospital to remain an active participant in the Medicare program.
On August 14, four joint replacement patients were affected by a medication error at the Midtown campus. One of those patients was left paralyzed. The patients mistakenly received potassium phosphate instead of the intended anesthetic medication, mepivacaine. The error was identified the same day and self-reported to state regulators.
Ascension Saint Thomas said a review confirmed that no other patients were affected and that the incident was limited to the four patients. The hospital has been working with state and federal regulators on corrective measures following the error.
“We are grateful for our ongoing constructive collaboration with regulators, and we will continue to work with both the State of Tennessee regulators and CMS. Our hearts remain with those impacted by this event, and we are committed to learning from this and upholding the standards of patient safety, quality, and compassionate care,” the hospital stated in its September 16 update.
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