State pushes back on Saint Vincent Hospital: Says investigation still ongoing

WORCESTER — The state Department of Public Health is challenging a Saint Vincent Hospital press release that states the department found no deficiencies in staffing and quality of patient care at the hospital.

The investigation that started Jan. 31 is ongoing, and no conclusions can be drawn at this time, according to the state health department. It declined additional comment on an open investigation.

Saint Vincent issued its press release Tuesday morning, hours before the department notified the Telegram & Gazette via email of its stance. Meanwhile nurses are crying foul because they said St. Vincent didn’t let them meet privately with investigators to share their concerns.

Investigators from the state Department of Public Health spent five days at the hospital, according to the hospital's press release. The investigation followed more than 700 complaints filed by nurses with state and federal regulators that claimed severe understaffing that puts patient safety at risk.

The state health department did not respond to a request for a copy of its report. Saint Vincent didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the health department's stance.

“To have no negative findings for staffing and quality of care from the DPH is a reflection of the consistent collaboration and dedication to patient care that our staff and physicians demonstrate every day,” Carolyn Jackson, the hospital’s chief executive officer, said in a statement. “We appreciate DPH’s thoughtful approach to the detailed survey that was completed. Our team was proud to show them the inner workings of our high-quality organization.”

No clear picture

Nurses argue there wasn't a clear picture of the inner workings because the hospital handpicked nurses to meet with investigators. Some nurses were denied the chance to speak with investigators and others feared management retaliation if they did, according to the MNA.

“Having DPH investigators at St. Vs without protections for nurses to speak to them independently is akin to sending in UN inspectors into North Korea to look for nuclear weapons and expect ordinary citizens to speak freely,” said David Schildmeier, a nurses association spokesman.

Saint Vincent discredited the union's charge of interference: “Saint Vincent Hospital remains focused on continuing to provide high-quality care. We are grateful for the dedicated physicians, nurses and staff who prioritize patient care every day. We do not condone the MNA’s actions to try to discredit our high-quality organization.”

State investigators found five of six alleged complaints completely unsubstantiated, said the hospital’s release. Telemetry monitoring equipment was cited for improvement and the hospital said it was corrected.

Nurses contacted the office of Gov. Maura T. Healey to request the state health department put monitors at the hospital to ensure patient safety.

Earlier report: Hospital accreditation in jeopardy

This latest report follows last’s week’s report by the Joint Commission that said Saint Vincent’s accreditation could be in jeopardy. The hospital must demonstrate evidence that it complies with proper patient care standards to keep its accreditation.

Saint Vincent was found non-compliant with applicable Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Conditions.

The Joint Commission is an independent nonprofit that accredits more than 20,000 health care programs and organizations in the U.S.

Last month, nurses delivered a petition to hospital management to demand that it fix problems including a staff shortage that nurses claim endangers patients' lives. Hospital leadership declined to meet with the handful of nurses who delivered the petition signed by 500 nurses at the hospital, said the union.

Complaints focus on low staffing

Complaints from nurses include the hospital’s failure to meet contract terms to adequately staff the emergency room.

The contract between nurses and management was reached after the longest nurses strike in state history of more than 300 days that was settled two years ago. The agreement calls for at least 15 nurses on duty in the emergency room, according to the association. However, half that number are on duty during many evenings.

Additional complaints related to low staffing include: Cardiac patients admitted without access to special monitors; increased calls for “rapid response” backup; maternity patients placed on hold for inductions; and patients left to lie in their own urine and feces for extended periods of time.

Some nurses that lodged complaints were fired, according to the union, including three nurses in the emergency department. Six nurses on other units were suspended without pay. The MNA filed a charge of unfair labor practice against hospital owner Tenet Healthcare, and wants the terminations and suspensions lifted.

Pending state legislation calls for minimum patient ratios for registered nurses. In light of staffing challenges at Saint Vincent, the union said it’s time lawmakers pass the bill.

A hospital that once had more than 800 nurses now is staffed with less than 600, with more than 200 pending vacancies, according to the nurses association. Nurses claim the hospital denied their request for an influx of temporary nurses to meet patient demand in the maternity unit. During the longest strike in state history that lasted nearly two years, nurses claim the hospital spent $5 million weekly on temporary nurses.

Tenet Healthcare, based in Dallas, also owns MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham and Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick. Tenet reported a gross profit of $16.9 billion in 2023 with an operating income of $2.4 billion in the same year, according to online reports.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @henrytelegram

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: State says it is not done investigating Saint Vincent Hospital