The New Hampshire hospital at the center of a controversy over a former radiologic technologist (RT) who may have infected patients with hepatitis C will be able to continue to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs after passing a U.S. government audit.
Exeter Hospital said that the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed that the facility has met "all the conditions of participation" in the programs after investigators conducted a follow-up survey at the hospital on December 3 and 4.
A three-person team from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services examined the hospital's operations, particularly focusing on CMS standards applying to the facility's governing body, as well as practices in infection control, medication security, quality assurance, facilities, and security.
The survey was initiated following revelations that former Exeter RT David Kwiatkowski may have infected patients with hepatitis C as part of a scheme in which he allegedly diverted medication intended for patients for his own use. He was arrested in July and pleaded not guilty to federal charges last week.
Kwiatkowski is suspected of infecting other patients with hepatitis C at other facilities around the U.S. where he worked as a traveling RT.
