Some surgery at Central Maine Medical Center paused over sterilization issues, hospital says
Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston on Wednesday. "Cases requiring the affected steam sterilization process are temporarily being diverted, and some nonurgent, scheduled procedures are being rescheduled," a hospital spokesperson said. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)
Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston is sending some patients elsewhere for surgery after the state identified an issue late last week with the sterilization equipment used in its operating rooms, hospital officials say.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services found a problem with the equipment used for sterilizing surgical instruments during a visit to the hospital on Aug. 21. A Central Maine Medical Center spokesperson said the hospital has placed surgical cases that require that sterilization process on diversion, signaling ambulances to bring or transfer patients to other nearby facilities.
“Cases requiring the affected steam sterilization process are temporarily being diverted, and some nonurgent, scheduled procedures are being rescheduled,” a Central Maine Medical Center spokesperson said.
The hospital does not know when the full range of surgical services will be restored.
A spokesperson for DHHS said the agency’s Division of Licensing and Certification is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to conduct an ongoing federal compliance investigation.
“Once that investigation is finalized the findings will be released in accordance with CMS policy, and if appropriate, a Statement of Deficiencies will be issued and made public,” the spokesperson said.
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DHHS did not answer further questions about patient safety and diversions related to surgical services at CMMC.
Central Maine Medical Center is part of the western Maine health system Central Maine Healthcare, which includes hospitals in Bridgton and Rumford and several physician practices. Central Maine Healthcare was acquired by California-based nonprofit Prime Healthcare Foundation in February.
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When a hospital goes on diversion, it usually means its emergency room cannot accept more patients. But with Central Maine Medical Center’s operating rooms on diversion, providers say some patients that have already been admitted to the hospital may have to be transferred.
The hospital says it is coordinating care based on clinical urgency.
“Nonurgent, planned procedures may be rescheduled, while patients requiring more immediate surgical care are being coordinated with our healthcare partners when necessary to ensure timely access to appropriate treatment,” the hospital spokesperson said.
MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick and Maine Medical Center in Portland have received several patients whose surgeries were originally scheduled at Central Maine Medical Center, said John Porter, spokesperson for MaineHealth.
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The health system has been able to accommodate those patients so far. But Porter said it tacks on an additional burden to the existing workforce and capacity constraints across Maine’s hospitals.
“While health systems routinely support one another during temporary disruptions,” Porter said, “a substantial or prolonged disruption of planned services at any hospital or practice location can create ripple effects across the state and ultimately affect patients’ ability to receive timely care.”
A spokesperson for Central Maine Medical Center said the hospital’s operating rooms remain operational. Physicians are still performing procedures that “can be safely supported with available sterilization processes.”
However, multiple Central Maine Healthcare providers, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution from the health system, said the operating rooms are closed to most surgeries.
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Hospital officials did not immediately respond to further questions about what types of surgeries are impacted.
A spokesperson said Central Maine Medical Center will resume services when leadership is confident that appropriate sterilization processes are back in place.
“Central Maine Healthcare is actively working on a solution that will allow us to resume our full range of surgical services as quickly and, most importantly, as safely as possible,” the spokesperson said.
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Hannah Kaufman covers health and access to care in central and western Maine. She is on the first health reporting team at the Maine Trust for Local News, looking at state and federal changes through the. More by Hannah Kaufman
