NCDHHS closes the only abortion clinic that wouldve met new requirements+State Health Director quits
The NC Department of Health and Human Services has suspended the license of the only abortion clinic in North Carolina that would have met the requirements laid out in the motorcycle safety/abortion restriction bill signed into law this week.
Via The Citizen-Times:
After a routine survey of FemCare of Asheville, inspectors found “egregious violations of existing rules that revealed an imminent threat to the health and safety of patients,” according to a statement from the state DHHS office Wednesday.
Drexdal Pratt, director of DHHS’ Division of Health Service Regulation, said in the statement that the clinic failed to meet 23 separate rules.
“We take rule violations very seriously and, when necessary, take firm action to prevent harm to patients and clients in the facilities that we license regulate and inspect,” Pratt said.
The Citizen-Times - State to close Asheville abortion clinic
Some of the specific problems DHHS cited with the facility, via WCNC:
Failed to maintain anesthesia (nitrous oxide gas) delivery systems in good working condition, with torn masks and tubing held together with tape.This could lead to patients not receiving the intended dosage and risk patients not being fully sedated during surgical procedures, leading to pain and physical harm.
Failed to ensure emergency equipment had weekly checks to ensure the equipment was suitable for use in patient care and failed to ensure that emergency medicine wasn’t expired.
Failed to have a resuscitator available.
Failed to sweep and mop the operating room floor and failed to properly clean operating room beds.
Failed to have a director of nursing responsible and accountable for all nursing services.
Failed to have an agreement/contract with an anesthetist or anesthesiologist.
Failed to have an agreement/contract with a registered pharmacist to assure appropriate methods, procedures and controls for obtaining, dispensing, and administering drugs.
WCNC - DHHS closes abortion clinic in Asheville
Read the full FemCare report here.
The inspection of the clinic took place just two days after the state House voted to approve the new abortion restrictions bill that at present could only be met by the Asheville facility. The next week, the state Senate approved the bill.
Also of note - the DHHS announced Tuesday night that the State Health Director, Dr. Laura Gerard, had resigned from her position effective immediately. No explanation was offered in the Department’s press release.
Gerard’s letter of resignation, via NC Policy Watch:
Although I have demonstrated the ability to produce accomplishments that require work and collaboration with diverse groups and across political aisles, I acknowledge that I have significant differences and disagreements with many of the policy and administrative directions that I see unfolding in North Carolina and in the Department of Health and Human Services. These differences are making it increasingly impossible to continue to be effective in my current role.
Read the full letter here: State Health Director resigns from DHHS
We’ll update this post as more information is released.
source
Hm... NC DHHS inspects the abortion clinic that was cited to be the only clinic to stay open under new regs of Sb353/Hb695 just days after Sb353 is introduced. Not fishy at all, amirite?
Via The Citizen-Times:
After a routine survey of FemCare of Asheville, inspectors found “egregious violations of existing rules that revealed an imminent threat to the health and safety of patients,” according to a statement from the state DHHS office Wednesday.
Drexdal Pratt, director of DHHS’ Division of Health Service Regulation, said in the statement that the clinic failed to meet 23 separate rules.
“We take rule violations very seriously and, when necessary, take firm action to prevent harm to patients and clients in the facilities that we license regulate and inspect,” Pratt said.
The Citizen-Times - State to close Asheville abortion clinic
Some of the specific problems DHHS cited with the facility, via WCNC:
Failed to maintain anesthesia (nitrous oxide gas) delivery systems in good working condition, with torn masks and tubing held together with tape.This could lead to patients not receiving the intended dosage and risk patients not being fully sedated during surgical procedures, leading to pain and physical harm.
Failed to ensure emergency equipment had weekly checks to ensure the equipment was suitable for use in patient care and failed to ensure that emergency medicine wasn’t expired.
Failed to have a resuscitator available.
Failed to sweep and mop the operating room floor and failed to properly clean operating room beds.
Failed to have a director of nursing responsible and accountable for all nursing services.
Failed to have an agreement/contract with an anesthetist or anesthesiologist.
Failed to have an agreement/contract with a registered pharmacist to assure appropriate methods, procedures and controls for obtaining, dispensing, and administering drugs.
WCNC - DHHS closes abortion clinic in Asheville
Read the full FemCare report here.
The inspection of the clinic took place just two days after the state House voted to approve the new abortion restrictions bill that at present could only be met by the Asheville facility. The next week, the state Senate approved the bill.
Also of note - the DHHS announced Tuesday night that the State Health Director, Dr. Laura Gerard, had resigned from her position effective immediately. No explanation was offered in the Department’s press release.
Gerard’s letter of resignation, via NC Policy Watch:
Although I have demonstrated the ability to produce accomplishments that require work and collaboration with diverse groups and across political aisles, I acknowledge that I have significant differences and disagreements with many of the policy and administrative directions that I see unfolding in North Carolina and in the Department of Health and Human Services. These differences are making it increasingly impossible to continue to be effective in my current role.
Read the full letter here: State Health Director resigns from DHHS
We’ll update this post as more information is released.
source
Hm... NC DHHS inspects the abortion clinic that was cited to be the only clinic to stay open under new regs of Sb353/Hb695 just days after Sb353 is introduced. Not fishy at all, amirite?