A Connecticut surgery center will be monitored for 2 years by the state's Department of Public Health as a result of numerous violations uncovered by inspectors.

According to a Connecticut Health I-Team report, a 2-day inspection in March found that the Surgical Center of CT, in Bridgeport, had failed to:

• document whether it had done post-op monitoring to make sure patients weren't dehydrated, vomiting or having cardiac or respiratory distress;
• document which staff members had administered anesthesia;
• routinely shield patients from radiation during X-rays;
• have RNs count sponges and instruments during surgery;
• document whether the sprinkler system or outlets were inspected regularly; and
• document whether the emergency generator was tested monthly.

Inspectors also found rust on an IV pole, discovered a suction regulator was missing from a room, and noted that an OR table mattress pad was cracked.

Under the terms of a consent order, the center will regularly update the state on its infection control efforts, its medical record documentation, its nursing staffing levels, and its anesthesia and surgical services.

Jim Burger