Tom Hughes, a spokesman for UNC Hospitals, said hospital officials sent the response by Federal Express on June 19. The response was due June 14.
The deficiencies cited included failure of staff to keep a current nursing care plan addressing pain management, nursing staff's failure to administer and document certain drugs appropriately, failure of staff to obtain a written order for an adult patient in behavioral restraint not to be restrained for more than four hours, and failure of staff to provide a patient with a written notice regarding the resolution of a grievance in a timely manner.
Karen McCall, vice president of public affairs and marketing for UNC Hospitals, said the "standard deficiencies" do not damage the credibility of the hospitals.
"The standard deficiencies are the least serious, and it is fairly common for hospitals to be cited for these when inspections like these are done," she said. "The hospital can still participate in Medicare and Medicaid."
The hospital administration's plan of action to address deficiencies in pain management includes assessing pain by auditing documentation on inpatient admission and educating staff regarding pain management policy.
Hospital officials said they also plan to more closely monitor drug documentation and educate staff if the documentation is inadequate or incomplete.
UNC Hospitals officials also said they plan to educate staff regarding restraint order requirements and time limits on restraining patients.
McCall said officials from the Division of Facilities Services visited the hospital because the hospital was randomly selected for a review of a survey conducted by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
She said the survey by the commission gave a positive assessment of UNC Hospitals.
