В штате Луизиана выявили 12 нарушений санитарных норм в больнице NLMC

New health inspection report shows 12 alleged violations at NLMC The July 29 report highlighted 12 alleged issues, down from 14 in a July 8 report RUSTON, La. (KNOE) - Inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Health’s Health Standards Section are continuing to look into alleged violations at Northern Louisiana Medical Center (NLMC) in Ruston. During their third visit to the hospital since June 1, 2026, inspectors cited a dozen alleged violations at NLMC, down from 24 in the first report and 14 in the second. RELATED: CEO at Northern Louisiana Medical Center resigns months into the job; interim chief named KNOE has reached out to NLMC about the inspection and ongoing improvements at the medical center, but we did not hear back. In a previous statement following the second inspection report, a spokesperson for NLMC told KNOE: The most recent public report is below, followed by each alleged violation idenified by inspectors. Patient rights and patient rights: Care in safe setting Investigators said the hospital violated both health standards twice, citing the same two events for both. The first was for not having emergency supplies and equipment in the outpatient radiology area. Inspectors said they found a “dusty dirty” metal container that had two vials of atropine sulfate with an expiration date of July 2023. The National Cancer Institute says the drug can be used as a nerve blocker and muscle relaxer, but it can also be used to increase a patient’s heart rate and treat effects of certain poisons. A staff member told inspectors in an interview that there were no emergency supplies in the area and that the staff member did not know the emergency care plan, the report said. The second was by failing to ensure the call bell system identified where the call was made. A nurse said she did not know which of the emergency department’s (ED) three restroom call buttons were pushed, the report stated. Patient care assignments The hospital could not prove that seven of the eight paramedics reviewed in the ED were competent in their skills. In all seven cases, inspectors reported that the paramedics signed off on a new job description, but their employee files did not show that any new competency related to the description had been completed. Form and retention of records Inspectors said the hospital has 49 delinquent medical records that are more than 30 days old. According to the report, hospital policy states notices will be sent to staff if any record was not complete after seven and 21 days past discharge. If a record was not completed at 30 days, a suspension notice would be sent to the staff member, according to the policy. During an interview, a staff member said 15 providers had delinquent medical records of more than 30 days, but no notices or suspension notices were filed. Content of record: orders, notes, reports During a review of one patient’s records, investigators noted that hospital staff did not report dosages of 10 medications given to the patient on their Code Blue Record. A staff member confirmed the doctor’s signature on the patient’s record and noted the medication order was incomplete. Radiologic services The hospital failed to the meet the requirements to have a condition of participation for radiological services, the report said. Investigators said the hospital failed to have regular inspections for lead aprons to protect patients from radiation. Safety policy and procedures Similar to the radiologic services standard, inspectors said one lead apron was shredded at the shoulder. During an interview, one staff member said she did not know the aprons needed to be hung flat and needed inspections. A different staff member said they were not aware of any apron being inspected. Adequacy of laboratory services During a survey of 10 out of 10 patient records, the hospital failed to post STAT lab tests within one hour, the report found. Per hospital policy, STAT tests are required to be completed in under an hour, investigators said. The report listed the following eight STAT tests for the patients: - Ordered at 7:56 a.m., collected at 8:25 a.m., resulted at 9:53 a.m., total time: 1 hour and 57 minutes. - Ordered at 9:05 a.m., collected at 9:41 a.m., resulted at 11:37 a.m., total time: 2 hours and 32 minutes. - Ordered at 11:44 a.m., collected at 12:23 p.m., resulted at 1:36 p.m., total time: 1 hour and 52 minutes. - Ordered at 4:47 p.m., collected at 4:57 p.m., resulted at 6:01 p.m., total time: 1 hour and 14 minutes. - Ordered at 11:50 p.m., collected at 12:25 a.m., resulted at 1:53 a.m., total time: 2 hours and 3 minutes. - Ordered at 2:03 a.m., collected at 2:14 a.m., resulted at 3:45 a.m., total time: 1 hour and 42 minutes. - Ordered at 5:39 p.m., collected at 7:00 p.m., resulted at 8:10 p.m., total time: 2 hours and 31 minutes. - Ordered at 6:53 a.m., collected at 7:01 a.m., resulted at 8:11 a.m., total time: 1 hour and 18 minutes. Competent dietary staff Investigators said staff did not ensure food was at appropriate temperatures. During an interview, an employee confirmed staff did not confirm appropriate temperatures before serving the food. According to the report, the temperature variances were: - Cheesecake was 4.5 degrees warmer than the maximum allowed. - Fruit served was 1.1 degrees warmer than the maximum allowed. - Vegetable soup was 55 degrees colder than the minimum allowed. - Oranges were 1.1 degrees warmer than the maximum allowed. - Milk was 1.2 degrees warmer than the maximum allowed. - Hamburger was 14.7 degrees colder than the minimum allowed. - Chicken salad was 16.2 degrees warmer than the maximum allowed. Physical environment Inspectors said NLMC broke this health standard twice. First, by failing to ensure preventive maintenance was performed on all hospital equipment, and second, by failing to repair light fixtures to ensure patient safety, the report stated. Maintenance of physical plant Similar to the physical environment violation, investigators went more in-depth about the infractions. Two ultrasounds, two gel warmers and two x-ray machines did not have any proof of preventive maintenance, the report noted. Inspectors also said the CT scanner was out of service. The last noted inspection of the scanner was in December 2024. The manufacturer recommended that it be checked every six months, records said. Six suction regulators and one other regulator in the ED had not received preventive maintenance in more than a decade, investigators noted. The machines all had dates listed between April 2012 and June 2013. During an interview with a staff member, she told inspectors she did not know the regulators needed preventive maintenance, but verified the machines needed preventive maintenance done. As for the light fixtures, inspectors stated there were no safety lens covers in five rooms in the ED. One of those fixtures also had a missing light bulb with the socket exposed. Investigators also mentioned the lead aprons under the Safety policy and procedures standard, saying the aprons also violated this health standard. Infection control surveillance prevention The hospital failed to maintain a sanitary environment and safe temperatures and humidity levels in operating rooms, the report said. During a tour of the kitchen, inspectors found: - An unfinished section of the ceiling that could not be cleaned. In the outpatient radiology area: - Three stained ceiling tiles in a hallway, - “Heavy dust” and “particulate matter” in X-ray room 2, - Stained curtains in three patient changing rooms, - Stained curtains in ultrasound room 2, - Five porous foam wedges used for patients during X-rays. In the outpatient rehabilitation unit: - A chair worn to the threads, - Torn upholstery, - Therapy equipment with significant dust on it. In the outpatient wound care unit: - Dead bugs in the majority of the light fixtures. During a review of the temperature, humidity and pressure logs for operating rooms in the ambulatory surgery center, inspectors said hospital staff did not follow safe temperature and humidity guidelines to prevent the spread of infections. Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.