NEW: State Senator Wants Lifespan Investigated
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Sen. James E. Doyle II today called for state review of Lifespan, after a series of problems at hospitals run by the network, including a software issue announced today that resulted in as many as 2,000 patients in the state receiving the incorrect form of medication since last fall.
“When an operator of so many hospitals in our state has this many major problems in such a short time, it could be indicative of serious mismanagement. If Lifespan is improperly caring for patients, that is a very grave public health risk. I’m not satisfied with trusting Lifespan to adequately address its shortcomings when it continues to experience such major problems. I want an independent review of the hospitals it runs in Rhode Island so we can truly feel confident that Rhode Islanders are receiving safe, reliable treatment when they go to the hospital,” said Senator Doyle, a Democrat who represents District 8 in Pawtucket. “Between power outages, wrong side surgeries, and now medicine mismanagement someone needs to ask questions.”
Senator Doyle called for a review, either by the Senate’s Government Oversight Committee or its Health and Human Services Committee, in conjunction with the Department of Health, into whether Lifespan is doing all it can to protect patients.
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Lifespan announced earlier today that as many as 2,000 patients at Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Bradley Hospital and Newport Hospital may have received the wrong forms of their medication due to a software glitch.
Rhode Island Hospital has also suffered power outages and has been cited for several cases of wrong-site surgery in recent years. Senator Doyle says the issues seem to be part of a trend that warrants further investigation.
“Hospitals make the difference between life and death for people every single day. After so many problems, I’m not willing to accept Lifespan’s word. For the sake of public safety, we need an independent review that tells us whether Lifespan is doing everything it can to prevent problems, or whether its primary objective is simply protecting the bottom line,” said Senator Doyle.
