Norton Hospital Closes Psychiatry Unit After Patient Dies
Norton Hospital has closed its psychiatry unit after a preliminary investigation into a patient’s death. The death occurred last weekend and officials have indicated that Norton's level of safety and quality of patient care was not acceptable.
Norton officials said the death occured last weekend in a 21-bed unit for adults, prompting officials to temporarily close the unit to new admissions. They also are working to transfer the 10
remaining patients to other facilities.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is launching an investigation into the death.
Lee Millman, a spokeswoman for the Atlanta office of CMS, said that the agency has started an investigation. She also said her agency has notified the state of Kentucky, which employs investigators contracted by CMS. Gwenda Bond, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said her agency’s Office of Inspector General has been in contact with CMS and will investigate.
