The Ohio Department of Health has given Insight Hospital and Medical Center in Warren until mid-December to correct violations of the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code, or face revocation of its license to operate.

Insight was notified on November 17 that, during an inspection of the facility on November 12, the facility was not able to:

  • Maintain comfortable temperatures inside the waiting room for patients.
  • Integrate emergency services with other departments of the hospital in such a way that the hospital can immediately make available the full extent of its patient care resources to assess and render appropriate care for an emergency patient.

The complaint was filed regarding violations cited on November 12, licensure monitoring inspections, and uncorrected violations cited on March 27, September 23, October 9, and October 22 inspections.

The ODH also said in the letter that it investigated complaints "regarding the lack of ability to provide health care services" to patients, including the timely dispensation of intravenous thrombolytics to an emergency room stroke patient. 

"Instead that patient waited for two hours in the emergency room before being transferred to another hospital for proper care, jeopardizing the patient's ability to receive these medications within the narrow window of time available for their administration," the letter read. 

The hospital now has until December 17 to request a hearing with the ODH, or it could lose its license to operate if no hearing is requested.

The complaints listed by the ODH included issues with delayed maintenance, life-safety, and water management plans.

Trumbull County Commissioner Rick Hernandez called the development "disturbing news," adding that "my understanding is it is a work in progress" and "hopefully something can get done."

This follows news first reported by 21 News that Insight's certification for Medicare and Medicaid services was never restored after lapsing on October 10.