LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Lancaster General Hospital is facing several citations after an unannounced special monitoring investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
The visit reportedly happened on Nov. 21, 2023, and determined that the facility was not in compliance with the requirements of the Pa. Department of Health's rules and regulations for hospitals.
The investigation revealed that LGH failed to ensure sterile equipment was available for scheduled surgeries; in one instance, a procedure was delayed by forty minutes and two were canceled.
The Pa. Department of Health report also cited multiple employees working in the operating room without masks on.
There are multiple "plans of action" in the report implemented by LGH to address the cited issues, including a monitoring tool to ensure all instruments are available and ready to use, leadership team meetings held bi-weekly, additional training for employees and additional oversight to ensure the safety of a patient undergoing surgery.
A Lancaster General Hospital spokesperson released the following statement to FOX43:
"Patient safety is an essential cornerstone of care across Lancaster General Health. Our plan of correction demonstrates our commitment to continuously improve the reliability and safety of our processes. We are fully cooperating with the Pennsylvania Department of Health in connection with this matter."