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Hospital Might Have To Close After Patient Death

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Aug 5, 2009 8:13 pm US/Mountain

Hospital Might Have To Close After Patient Death

DENVER (CBS4) ― A doctor-owned hospital in Denver may have to shut its doors for good after the death of one of its patients. Colorado Orthopedic and Surgical Hospital (COSH) in Denver has not had any patients since July 7. That's when it voluntarily closed its doors in the face of a state threat to suspend its license.

Employees were being told that the hospital isn't bringing in revenue. It has enough to meet payroll for just two more weeks and is considering its options, including closure.

Hilary Carpenter's father had accompanied her to COSH to get a brain shunt replaced, but after surgery a nurse gave her a wrong dose of the pain killer Demerol through the wrong method and she died.

Her doctor had selected the hospital he partially owned.

"I imagined he was going to put her in the best facility for her needs," Hilary's father John Carpenter said. "Now I realize that's not the case."

The State Health Department investigated and found inadequate staff levels, training and certifications, among other problems. COSH was closed, except for the emergency room.

A memo from partner Exempla's CEO told employees it will consider its options over the next two weeks.

"Those options include the possibility of making staffing changes, reorganizing and possibly closing," the memo said.

Last month one of the physician-owners told CBS4 they plan to reopen.

"We'll work as much as we need to -- to maximize quality and satisfy our own internal goals for quality improvement and the state's goals," said Dr. Armodios Hatzidakis, Physician/Owner of COSH on July 16.

While COSH could survive, John Carpenter believes doctor-owned hospital should be closed.

"I would like to be able to expose them for what they really are. They are money machines for the doctors," Carpenter said.

The hospital issued a statement on Wednesday saying its board continues to monitor the financial situation and study changes that can be made to maintain operational excellence and long-term financial viability.

The State Health Department says it is continuing to finalize a plan of correction that would help ensure public safety before COSH could reopen.

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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