'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAUACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABdAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgQAAICAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQAIQUGEWEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMFEQEAAQUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAwAEESExE//aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8Ag7B3jmrgfka9ixUla2qlI7DmPwoTpDoDWbgpwRy067uPWeJGJ+kYxlC2VlkyroobjHlHo6nK/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Florida’s HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital has come under fire ever since surgeons expressed concern about the safety and care of patients.
It was revealed that the staff had a meeting with management to address their complaints, however, there was little to no change made following the discussion. Amongst the many issues raised by the doctors, it was revealed that the health facility was infested with cockroaches.
In December 2021, Bayonet Point surgeons approached upper management to discuss several issues. These included problems like unsanitary surgical equipment, inadequate monitoring of patients in the ICU, and anesthesiology errors that resulted in patients waking up during surgery. They also expressed concerns about problems like an extremely busy emergency department, among others.
Photos of the hospital provided by the doctors to a news publication showed ceiling leaks, oxygen tanks being held together with tape, wires dangling from a hole in a wall, and cockroaches in an operating room.
Neurosurgeon Dr. George Giannakopoulos also revealed in an interview that in just one month, there were 18 “near misses” among patients. One such incident included the wrong side of a patient’s hip being anesthetized.
A Bayonet Point nurse also revealed in a government investigation that she didn't feel safe with the number of patients per nurse.
In another instance, a patient suffering from a ruptured aneurysm arrived at the emergency department. Surgery for the same was scheduled for the next day, and medical staff was asked to monitor the patient overnight.
However, on the day of the surgery, the patient passed away. This comes after there was no nurse taking notes and monitoring the patient throughout the night. The doctor revealed:
“It was obvious what had happened. Nobody had seen the patient from 7pm to 7am.”
Netizens react to HCA Bayonet Point’s ongoing predicament
Internet users were astonished to hear about the issues the hospital was facing. Many slammed the hospital administration for being solely focused on profits, which was concurred by their doctors and nurses.
NBC News gathered that the HCA had earned $5.6 billion and is reportedly a favorite of investors. Many noted that hospitals must not focus on making profits and should primarily focus on safe healthcare.
Spokesperson responds to allegations
Regina Temple, the chief executive officer of Bayonet Point Hospital, declined to comment on the allegations. However, a spokesperson for the hospital claimed to offer “safe care” to the patients while avoiding speaking about the aforementioned issues.
Their statement read:
“As a learning hospital, we are continually looking for ways to improve patient safety and quality of care. We apply those learnings, including reports by both federal and state regulators, to ensure best practices for quality care are in place."
The statement continued:
"HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital is appropriately staffed to ensure the safe care of our patients. We rely on feedback from our physicians, and when issues are validated we take necessary action.”
HCA Healthcare’s chief executive officer, Samuel N. Hazen, also declined to comment.
