TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) -- More than a month after the death of Barbara Dawson, Calhoun Liberty hospital has been given until March 1st to fix ten issues that the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) says need to be fixed.
Some of these deficiencies include failing to follow policies of medical assessment and reassessment as well as failure to document patient status upon them leaving the hospital.
"It is difficult", said Ruth Attaway, CEO of Calhoun Liberty Hospital. "But just because its difficult doesn't lessen my desire to see top of the line health care for that community. We serve as primary care for a lot of people. They don't even have a doctor."
Tallahassee civil rights leader Reverend Dr. R. B. Holmes acknowledged that the 23,000 people in the area need the proper care a hospital should provide and he was determined that the hospital would see things through. "We take the recommendations very seriously", he said. "Once we get through this process, the hospital [is] going to be stronger and much better. And we cannot. We will not close the hospital. We're gonna work with AHCA."
There are a few new hires to ensure better workflow and meet the guidelines set by AHCA. This includes a nationally certified E.R. director who will help watch over the hospital, as well as a risk management expert, who used to work with AHCA.
"It will just expose our desire to do our business which is patient access and patient care", said Attaway. "Do it better. Do it really well. That's what we want to do."
