Troubled Pennsylvania hospital gets shut down
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According to a March 30 statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), St. Catherine Medical Center Fountain Springs in Ashland not only lacks appropriate equipment and supplies for surgical, outpatient and emergency services but also has no means to obtain them.
The department said it placed a ban on new admissions March 23 after investigating a complaint and determining the facility presented “a significant threat to the well-being of the patients.” A week later the department expanded the stoppage to include emergency and outpatient procedures.
Finally, local news outlets reported that, as of April 4, the hospital had begun moving all 24 residents of its long-term care center to other facilities in the area around Ashland where the institution has been a fixture since 1883. Reports indicated the hospital had failed to complete mandatory preventive maintenance on EKG systems, defibrillators and ventilators, and x-ray units were not working properly.
“The health and safety of patients are our primary concerns,” said Eli N. Avila, MD, the Keystone State’s secretary of health, in a written statement. He added that his staff has contacted the Department of Labor and Industry to assist affected employees, although DOH gave no word as to reassignments or layoffs.
Area residents expressed disappointment over the apparent closing of “St. Catherine’s.”
“I’ve been there a couple times for concussions, stitches, and they always treated me fine,” John Steiff of Ashland told Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s WNEP-TV in an on-air interview. “I hope it bounces back. It’s a nice place to have. It’s pretty close and I don’t want to see it go.”
A hospital spokesperson commented to local media on the carefulness of the patient transfers, but the organization has not announced plans for the future and its website makes no mention of the emptying of its beds.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.