Oregon State Hospital’s Plan of Correction Approved

Salem, Oregon- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has given its stamp of approval to the Oregon State Hospital’s (OSH) Plan of Correction (PoC), marking a significant milestone in the hospital’s efforts to address deficiencies related to the secure medical transport of justice-involved patients.

The approval comes after CMS surveyors conducted thorough evaluations at OSH in September and October 2023, prompted by an incident where a patient left unauthorized while in secure transport restraints. Working closely with CMS, OSH implemented corrective measures, successfully removing an “immediate jeopardy” finding. The current PoC builds upon these efforts, focusing on continuous improvement and patient safety.

According to the CMS report, the plan is structured into four key categories: transportation of patients, incident response, trainings, and documentation. OSH has identified areas for enhancement, including policies and procedures for staff training to ensure patient safety during transport and restraint/seclusion use, elopement prevention measures, exploration of less restrictive interventions, and improvements to quality assurance processes.

Dolly Matteucci, Superintendent of OSH, emphasized the significance of the PoC, stating, “The safety of patients and employees will benefit from the ongoing refinements and additional enhancements included in the PoC.” She highlighted the importance of enhanced policies, specific trainings, clear expectations, and data-driven evaluations in fostering individual and collective success.

The PoC encompasses policy and procedure review and updates, attestation and training initiatives, and regular audits. Audits will be conducted at a consistent cadence, with annual reviews scheduled once sufficient progress has been documented.

Looking ahead, CMS surveyors are set to return on February 25 to validate the successful implementation of the PoC, underscoring OSH’s commitment to continuous improvement and adherence to regulatory standards.