Rhode Island Hospital Caught Unprepared When Smoldering Crisis Ignited

I understand how one mistake can be called an anomaly. Two mistakes might be labeled an unfortunate coincidence. But by the time you screw up three, four, or five times, you should recognize the problem as a smoldering crisis.

Not so at Rhode Island Hospital, the largest in the state. It has been fined $150,000 for operating on the wrong body part five times since 2007. On top of the fine, Rhode Island Hospital must install video cameras in its operating rooms and have a clinician observe whether surgeons are marking operation sites. (http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/13703). This was the second such fine in as many years, said the Associated Press. The prior fine, for $50,000, was imposed following three wrong site neurosurgeries in 2007. According to state health director David Gifford, these are the only two fines ever issued by his department.

After the 2007 fine and two more mess-ups, the hospital was prepared to respond to inquiries, right? Wrong. "A spokeswoman for the hospital was not aware of the order and refused to comment." So the Associated Press knows about a state health order against the hospital before the hospital's spokesperson is made aware? Pitiful! Further, there is nothing on the hospital's web site explaining what measures are being taken, voluntary or otherwise, to ensure the right body parts of its patients are being operated on.

It appears no one responded appropriately to this smoldering crisis. Despite a fine two years ago, the crisis team was unprepared. Don't let this happen to you and your organization. Assess vulnerabilities. Be prepared to deal with them. Develop messages to key target audiences.