LITTLE ROCK, AR -- A celebration Wednesday at the Arkansas State Hospital. But it was hard to imagine cheers fifteen months ago.
That's when the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services cited the hospital with a long list of violations under the federal program. Some of the requirements they failed to meet include ensuring patients' rights, having qualified staff to meet patients' needs, and providing sanitary conditions for food storage.
"We had to redefine teamwork. We pulled together on each other's strength for implementing improvement for all department. We huddled, we did hand-offs," Martha Gordon, a hospital employee said.
Hospital leaders said it took a change in mindset to make it to this day. They had to become proactive instead of reactive.
"That's when we started to see the culture change in our staff. We saw the complaints come down. Our seclusion restraint is down as well," Hospital CEO Steven Henson said.
Leaders promise they won't rest on their laurels.
"Every step of progress that we make toward eradicating the problems that existed before is something all of you and all of us can take pride in," Governor Beebe said.
