The D.C. Department of Health unveiled to City Council members Friday the Greater Southeast Community Hospital plan to hire new employees, reform emergency room procedures and educate staff as a way to address concerns about quality of care.
The city’s intervention in the hospital’s management came after a survey conducted by the Department of Health between May 29 and June 1 found a shortage of staff due to a reliance on contracted workers, a lack of technical equipment and inefficient emergency room procedures, among other problems.
Specific plans offered by the hospital include the hiring of key staff members, such as a health information manager, a nuclear medicine technologist and pharmacists; educating employees on emergency room protocol; conducting a review of 100 percent of patients admitted to the emergency department for one month; and updating technological equipment.
The Department of Health will monitor the hospital until the changes are implemented, which could be as early as Oct. 1, D.C. Council Member David Catania said.
“We intend to be vigilant for as long as it takes to see that these provisions are met,” Catania said.
Catania, who chairs the council’s health committee, has been critical of Envision Hospital Corp., the company that owns Greater Southeast. He has accused the company and Chairman Paul Tuft of mismanaging federal and city money and allowing the hospital to fall into disrepair. As a result, care at the hospital has been compromised, Catania has said.
Envision provides the hospital with $500,000 a week to assist in its overhaul. Department of Health Deputy Director Feseha Woldu said the money is necessary to keep the hospital running. The facility is the only hospital located east of the Anacostia River inD.C.
No representatives from the hospital attended Friday’s hearing.
