The Manhattan clinic, which treated Joan before her death, reportedly made numerous serious mistakes, including failing to identify deteriorating vital signs and providing timely intervention.
- Nov 11, 2014
AceShowbiz - According to a federal report released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Monday, November 10, a Manhattan clinic that treated Joan Rivers made numerous serious mistakes before her death. The report confirmed that a selfie was taken when Joan was sedated.
The report, which was obtained by CNN, did not mention Joan by name but the description of the patient and the procedures she underwent match with the comedian, including her age and the date of her appointment. CMS refused to comment on whether the patient referenced in the report is Joan.
According to CNN, major mistakes that Yorkville Endoscopy clinic committed include failing to identify deteriorating vital signs and provide timely intervention; failing to record Joan's weight, prior to the administration of medication for sedation; failing to consistently document the dose of Propofol, a sedative, administered; failing to get Joan's informed consent for each procedure performed; failing to ensure that she was cared for only by physicians granted privilege in accordance with the clinic's bylaws; and failing to abide by its own cell phone policy.
Yorkville Endoscopy issued a statement on Monday in response to the report. "From the outset of the August 28th incident described in the CMS Report, Yorkville has been fully cooperative and collaborative with all regulatory and accreditation agencies," the statement read, "In response to the statement of deficiencies, Yorkville immediately submitted and implemented a plan of correction that addressed all issues raised."
The statement continued, "The regulatory agencies are currently reviewing the corrective plan of action and have been in regular contact with Yorkville. In addition, the physicians involved in the direct care and treatment referenced in the report no longer practice or provide services at Yorkville. Yorkville will continue its commitment to complying with all standards and accreditation requirements."
"Yorkville has been and remains open and active and is fully accredited by an independent review organization. The staff and providers are focused on providing the highest quality and most advanced care possible to its patients," the statement concluded.
Joan's daughter Melissa Rivers "is terribly disappointed to learn of the multiple failings on the part of medical personnel and the clinic as evidenced by the CMS report," according to a statement issued on the same day by her lawyers Jeffrey B. Bloom and Ben Rubinowitz.
"As any of us would be, Ms. Rivers is outraged by the misconduct and mismanagement now shown to have occurred before, during and after the procedure. Moving forward, Ms. Rivers will direct her efforts towards ensuring that what happened to her mother will not occur again with any other patient," the statement read.
