Saint Vincent says DPH survey finds no issues with staffing or quality of care, even as DPH investigation remains ongoing

Photo | Grant Welker Saint Vincent Hospital nurses picketing outside the Worcester hospital in the early days of the 300-day strike, which ended in January 2022.

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By Eric Casey

EDITOR's NOTE: This story has been updated from its original version, following the Massachusetts Department of Public Health telling WBJ on Tuesday evening its investigation into Saint Vincent Hospital remains ongoing.

Saint Vincent Hospital said on Tuesday morning the Massachusetts Department of Health survey into hundreds of complaints by nurses at the Worcester hospital found zero deficiencies related to staffing and quality of care at the facility, as the on-going war of words between the hospital and the Massachusetts Nurses Association labor union continues.

Despite the hospital's claims, DPH's investigation into Saint Vincent remains ongoing, according to the government agency.

"The Department of Public Health (DPH) began an onsite investigation at St. Vincent Hospital on January 31, 2024. This investigation is still ongoing, and no conclusions can be drawn at this time. DPH cannot comment on open investigations," DPH spokeswoman Katheleen Conti said in a Tuesday evening email to WBJ.

In its press release on Tuesday morning, Saint Vincent says a five-day, on-site survey of hospital conditions found five out of six complaints regarding the facility to be unsubstantiated, with the one deficiency related to the hospital’s telemetry monitoring equipment. The hospital did not provide further details regarding the issues with the telemetry monitoring equipment DPH found, but claimed that the issue has since been corrected.

“Quality is the cornerstone of everything we do at Saint Vincent Hospital, and we always welcome constructive feedback from the DPH,” Dr. Michele Sinopoli, chief medical officer at Saint Vincent, said in the press release. “Receiving positive results from an in-depth survey reinforces that our team consistently provides high-quality care to the communities we serve.”

MNA immediately pushed back against the announcement, stating in a Tuesday press release union officials have not seen the results of the DPH investigation.

The Tuesday announcement from Saint Vincent comes after a national accrediting agency found the hospital is not compliant with industry standards and will have to provide further evidence in order to keep its voluntary accreditation. MNA has petitioned the hospital to increase staffing levels.

“The only response we have today to Tenet, the DPH, or anyone who has a say in the care of patients at our hospital is please help us end the continued degradation of patient care, the needless suffering our patients, and the unrelenting and repugnant attacks on the more than 500 embattled RNs at our hospital, who’s only objective is to provide our patients and this community with dignity and care they should expect from their community hospital,” Marlena Pellegrino, co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit with the MNA, said in the MNA press release Tuesday.

MNA claimed multiple nurses were denied the opportunity to speak privately with investigators and concerns regarding violating patient privacy hindered nurses ability to speak freely about conditions at the hospital. The union said it has requested a copy of the report and a meeting with DPH investigators.