An Orange County hospital is at risk of losing its accreditation after a group of patients who had orthopedic operations at the facility got infections, prompting the medical center to halt elective surgeries.
The third largest hospital in the county, Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center got a warning last week after The Joint Commission performed an on-site survey.
The Joint Commission issued a preliminary denial of accreditation Oct. 8 "as a result of an immediate threat to the health or safety to patients or the public," according to a statement. "This decision is subject to review and appeal by the organization before the determination to deny accreditation."
Hospital officials said the staff was fully aware of the four patients who developed infections in June and was addressing the issue internally.
The hospital determined no protocols were broken in terms of hygiene and looked into environmental issues, when they discovered temperature and humidity control problems in the operating room in which the patients were treated, officials said.
"(The Commission has) suggested some corrections. We have also formed a correction and mitigation plan and we've submitted that to them," said Dr. Jim Keany, director of emergency services. "We've just gotten word today that that's been accepted by them. They've been very pleased with everything we've done as far as cooperating with the review."
The hospital has since placed ventilators in the operating room to help control the temperature, and officials say the cancellation of surgeries is voluntary.
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Mission Hospital would stand to lose Medicare and Medicaid funding if its accreditation is revoked, but officials say the hospital is on track to meet the necessary criteria within the 23 days it has to comply.
