A federal agency told Grady Memorial Hospital Wednesday it plans to conduct an unannounced survey of the hospital after the death of a woman who fell from an 11th floor window last month.
The inspection is aimed at making sure the health system still meets the health and safety standards set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services -- known as "conditions of participation" -- in order to continue receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding.
Grady is preparing for the visit, which was expected after the Sept. 6 incident, spokesman Matt Gove said in a statement. Police officers found the woman's body around 3:15 a.m. on the pavement directly below an open 11th floor window at the downtown hospital.
In a statement after the incident, Grady said it was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy and extended sympathies to the patient’s family. Windows in patient rooms are designed to be opened only by technicians for repairs, maintenance or other needs, according to the hospital.
The majority of hospitals that undergo a CMS inspection are able to fix any problems found and don't lose funding.
This isn't the first CMS survey Grady has undergone. In 2005, the federal agency threatened to cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding after an investigation revealed dozens of incidents, including unanticipated deaths, went without an internal review for more than a year. Grady didn't lose any funding as a result of that survey.
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