DALLAS — There is new information on Parkland Memorial Hospital's action plan to ensure patient safety.
The plan was released on Friday in response to a 600-page government report that found the Dallas County hospital was exposing patients to possible injury or even death.
The cases documented included:
- People in severe pain being given maps by emergency room staff to direct them to other parts of the hospital for their next treatment.
- A nurse failing to change the bed linens between emergency room patients.
- Complaints of ill children sent home without a medical screening.
Parkland has issued a correction plan that includes:
- Hiring at least ten more nurses.
- Making sure the right doctors are on-call and available for emergencies.
- New emergency room policies and guidelines.
- Enforcing infection control, like making sure doctors and nurses change gloves between patients.
- Daily and weekly performance audits for employees.
- Steps to stop the theft of drugs.
Parkland has until September 2 to make major progress on these goals or risk losing Medicare and Medicaid funding.
