TERRE HAUTE -- A hospital will implement a bar code system and take other steps to prevent a repeat of an incident in which a patient lapsed into cardiac arrest after being given the wrong medication.\nThe error at Union Hospital prompted a state investigation that found several other problems now being rectified, officials said.\nIn September, a patient in the Terre Haute hospital's intensive-care unit went into cardiac and respiratory arrest after receiving the incorrect medication. The patient recovered but died of a heart attack later in September.\nCarol Roesch, the hospital's vice president of patient care, said the patient's death was unrelated to the mistaken medication.\nThe Indiana State Department of Health surveyed the hospital in October, uncovering deficiencies, including incomplete medical records, Roesch said.\nThe hospital plans to begin using software in January that will move it toward completely electronic files. And a bar code system next fiscal year is expected to scan medication not only to check its accuracy but also automatically record it in a patient's medical records, said hospital spokeswoman Lorrie Heber.
The hospital intends to submit a plan of corrections Friday to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. The state health department conducted the October survey on behalf of CMS after the federal group received the patient complaint.\nIf deficiencies are not corrected, the hospital risks losing eligibility to receive payments through Medicare and Medicaid programs.\n"All the steps have been implemented. We take patient care very, very seriously," Roesch said.\nCMS has received complaints about Union Hospital four other times in the past four years, said Midwest spokesman Greg Chesmore. None of the complaints led to findings of deficiencies at the not-for-profit hospital.\nIn addition to investigating complaints, the Indiana health department surveys hospitals every year to 18 months for licensing, said spokeswoman Jennifer Dunlap.
