NCMC keeps Level II trauma care ranking

GREELEY — North Colorado Medical Center in November received conditional approval from the State Department of Health to continue operating as a Level II trauma center.

In May, during a routine site survey conducted every three years, the state found that Greeley’s hospital did not meet several requirements for redesignation.

NCMC was found to be deficient in five categories, but the site surveyor recommended redesignation pending approval of the hospital’s corrective action plan.

Three of the five deficiencies were related to documentation issues. Those three issues were reconciled prior to the State Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Advisory Council’s review of the surveyors’ recommendations.

The other two deficiencies involve the trauma service’s framework, which was found to be “present but not functioning,” and the trauma service director who “does not appear to be exercising his/her authority ? in the realm of patient care oversight or peer review,” according to a July document.

“From the department’s perspective, the deficiencies are ones that can be overcome and dealt with within the institution in a timely matter,´ said Gail Finley Rarey, who conducted the site survey for the health department. “It will definitely show up quickly if it is not.”

Finley Rarey said the deficiencies cited are, “common problems,” and that corrective action requirements are also “fairly common.”

Donna Nayduch, regional trauma director for Phoenix-based Banner Health System, which manages operations at the hospital, said the two nondocumentation deficiencies are related to communication issues, particularly among the surgeons.

“We’re meeting on a weekly basis to discuss patients and talk with all of the surgeons together,” she said. Also, the Trauma Service director now takes rounds on other surgeons’ patients to ensure she is influencing patient care, Nayduch said.

With the corrective action plan in place, NCMC will retain its Level II designation for the standard three-year period as long as a follow-up review, scheduled for September 2003, is successfully completed.

on Facebook on LinkedIn