For Release: IMMEDIATE
Date: September 28, 2007

Cherry Hospital Passes CMS Inspection

GOLDSBORO – Cherry Hospital officials have been told by inspectors from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that they are going to recommend the lifting of “immediate jeopardy” it had placed on the hospital earlier this month. The hospital is no longer under the threat of losing its certification to accept Medicare and Medicaid patients.
                             
On Sept 4-7, CMS officials had conducted a three-day inspection of Cherry Hospital and found deficiencies in the area of patient care and safety – failure to provide observation and documentation that resulted in the elopement of a patient; and failure to provide timely care of a patient needing emergency care. On Sept. 7, Cherry Hospital was notified that unless a plan to correct the deficiencies was accepted by CMS, the hospital would be terminated from the Medicare and Medicaid programs Sept. 30.

“The staff of Cherry Hospital worked diligently to correct the deficiencies noted by CMS, and we remain committed to providing the finest mental health care to the people we serve here in the eastern region of the state,” said Cherry Hospital Director Dr. Jack St.Clair.