More Dialysis Centers Shut Down due to Violations

[Zach]

Dialysis centers in Lawton, Anadarko shut down

by: Associated Press
Friday, March 20, 2009

LAWTON — Dialysis centers in Lawton and Anadarko have shut down after state inspectors uncovered several violations, including broken equipment, outdated medications and insect and rodent infestation at the Lawton clinic.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched an investigation Monday of American Dialysis in Lawton and Anadarko Dialysis Inc. after an anonymous complaint, said Tony Salters, a spokesman for the federal agency.

The two centers, operated by Dr. Freedom Ikedionwu, voluntarily ceased operations and withdrew from participation in Medicare, Salters said.

A woman who answered the phone Friday at American Dialysis in Lawton said the company had no comment. She refused to identify herself.

Salters said neither clinic had a history of being cited for violations, and that all of the patients at the two facilities have been placed with other clinics.

"Everyone has been facilitated so they will see no disruption of their dialysis treatment," he said.

A preliminary report by inspectors from the Oklahoma State Department of Health determined the medical director of the facilities left the country on March 15 without making adequate provisions for a qualified medical director to take over. When inspectors visited the sites, there was no qualified medical director or registered nurse at the location, the report says.

Other violations included standing water in dialysis rooms, insufficient medical supplies, expired medications, broken equipment, record-keeping irregularities and evidence of roach and rodent infestation at the Lawton clinic.

Salters said the clinics will not be able to re-enter a partnership with Medicare after voluntarily surrendering their privilege to work with the government program, which is used by most dialysis patients, because of the number and severity of the deficiencies found by the inspectors.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20090320_12_0_LAWTON654738

[Bill Peckham]

Sounds like a complaint directed to CMS is a way to get action. Would Oklahoma have investigated if the complaint went to the State Department of Health? What would have happened if the complaint had been sent to the local Renal Network?

[okarol]

See Zach - people post when you put up the news story!

[Zach]

Since yesterday (March 21) was my birthday, will you forgive me??   

[okarol]

Oh boy! How did I miss your birthday? Here, let me make it up to you.         

Ok, back on topic. Maybe I just post too much news. I include everything current for dialysis. Maybe I should just do an occasional story, might get read more. 

No forgiving necessary!

[Zach]

Maybe I just post too much news. I include everything current for dialysis. Maybe I should just do an occasional story, might get read more. 

Maybe we can place articles in different topic folders in the News Articles section.

[okarol]

How would that help? I post a news story, no one reads it, but you post the same one - and they read and reply. So maybe you should take over! 

[Zach]

How would that help? I post a news story, no one reads it, but you post the same one - and they read and reply. So maybe you should take over! 

You do a better job than I.

[okarol]

  Flatterer 

[Stacy Without An E]

What a surprise, another doctor run clinic that's spending as little as possible on the patients.

I'm fortunate because my clinic is only two years ago and well maintained.  Unfortunately, some of these clinic managers have to be called out.

And when the violations are this blatant, shouldn't they serve some jail time??