Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: November 16, 2001
Contact: Donald Williams 401-222-4727

HEALTH Releases Report on Hospital Incidents and Surveys

Findings Point to Stressed Industry and Some Needed Improvements

Today, Dr. Patricia A. Nolan, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, issued the Final Report to the Rhode Island General Assembly on "Hospital Surveys and Incident and Events Reporting." The Report presents the results of a yearlong survey of all licensed hospitals in the state. It includes a system-wide view of hospitals’ compliance with regulatory requirements in twelve specific survey "focus" areas. In addition, the Report reviews hospital compliance with the requirements for reporting adverse incidents and events. It also summarizes the concerns expressed by hospital officials about staffing, physician recruitment, reimbursement and other topics.

"The Hospital Survey process and Incident Reporting program represent two of the key tools we use to assure quality of health care in Rhode Island," said, Dr. Patricia A. Nolan, Director of the RI Department of Health (HEALTH). "Together, these programs provide more comprehensive, timely and independent information on hospitals and other health services in Rhode Island than would be available using national sources alone."

HEALTH’s other programs to ensure quality include the Health Care Quality and Performance Measurement Program, the Health Plan Information Program, Community Benefits Reports and the Hospital Discharge Data System.

Overall, the Report finds that most hospitals complied with regulatory standards. Among the major findings, HEALTH surveyors noted that hospitals need improvement in areas related to the processes and continuity of care both during hospitalization and following discharge. The number of patient complaints has grown over the past decade, but those substantiated following investigation by HEALTH remained stable. Hospital physicians and executives reported that the hospitals are under considerable operational and financial stress. Patients are older, more frail and have more complex needs than in the past. The availability of qualified staff is severely limited, psychiatric services (particularly for children and adolescents) are in short supply, and hospital finances are not sound.

The full text of the Report is available online at: http://www.health.ri.gov/hsr/facilities/hospital/hospitals2001.pdf