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PROVIDENCE The McKee administration has enlisted the help of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island and Care New England in evaluating the quality of patient care at the embattled state-run Eleanor Slater Hospital.
The two outside organizations will provide a peer review of the clinical and operational programs at Eleanor Slater Hospital focused on patient safety, quality of care and efficiency, according to a late-day statement by the agency that runs the state hospital.
This review is expected to take 60 days.
In a related development, Gov. Dan McKee told reporters on Tuesday that he anticipates an announcement by the end of the week on his choice of a replacement for Kathryn Power, who resigned mid-controversy as director of the state Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. (She cited the illness of a family member as her reason for resigning at the time.)
PROVIDENCE Newly released documents prove that the administrators of the state-run Eleanor Slater Hospital knew about leaking oxygen valves for years before declaring an immediate need to relocate oxygen-dependent patients at the Zambarano campus more than a month ago.
Until Friday, there was no answer to the central question they raised: who knew what, when?
In response to initial Journal inquiries in late March, the state agency that runs the hospital referred inquiries to the Department of Administration, which, when asked, was also unable to readily produce any inspection reports on the med gas system that provides oxygen to patients who cannot breathe on their own.
PROVIDENCE The McKee administration has now raised its own questions about how much the state can legitimately bill Medicaid for patients at the state-run Eleanor Slater Hospital.
The state has not officially suspended billing for federal Medicaid reimbursement, but McKee spokesman Matt Sheaff on Wednesday reported this latest wrinkle in the on-going saga: As ESH processed Medicaid billing for the months of April, May and June 2020, staff raised questions regarding the eligibility of certain expenses. To ensure the accuracy of bills submitted for Medicaid reimbursement, Sheaff said, the Executive Office of Health & Human Services will retain an outside, independent clinical review of patient medical records.
Gov. McKee visits Zambarano unit as questions swirl about its future
The governor had previously announced a pause on plans to overhaul Eleanor Slater Hospitalâs unit in Burrillville, R.I.
By Brian Amaral Globe Staff,Updated April 29, 2021, 12:46 p.m.
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Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston, R.I, on Feb. 21, 2021, where ill staff members led to an outbreak of the coronavirus.DAVID DEGNER/NYT
PROVIDENCE â Governor Dan McKee visited the Eleanor Slater Hospitalâs Zambarano unit in Burrillville on Wednesday amid questions and controversy about the state-run facilityâs future.
McKee, who took office in March, has announced a pause on plans to overhaul the facility as his new administration reviews the situation. On Wednesday, he got a first-hand look in a visit that was not publicly announced. Spokesman Matt Sheaff confirmed McKee went there in an official capacity, but did not elaborate on the findings from his trip.