SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Federal investigators have concluded that several problems at a state-run psychiatric hospital in Yankton caused the death of a patient who succumbed to alcohol withdrawal.
Issues identified in a report from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services include a failure to respect patients’ rights and a crippling shortage of providers at the Human Services Center, the Argus Leader reported. The center has been plagued by worker shortages and rapid leadership turnover.
Anne White, 37, of Yankton, died at the facility on Dec. 20 after her request to go to an emergency room was ignored.
“Nobody should ever have to die when they’re asking for help,” said Sara Lindquist, executive director of Sioux Falls’ office for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
The federal government investigated in January and eventually threatened to pull the facility’s Medicare funding.
The hospital has since made improvements and in April was found to be in compliance with federal standards, according to state Department of Social Services.
“HSC took quick action to correct the areas of non-compliance identified in the survey, which included expanding on already existing policies and procedures, and is in full compliance,” spokeswoman Tia Kafka said in a statement.
State officials declined to comment on White’s death.
There are still 72 unfilled positions at the center. Recently hired administrator Ken Cole will be the fourth person to lead the facility in less than a year when he starts at the end of May.
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Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com
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