Syracuse Crouse Hospital Mistakes Logged By Medicare: Retained Objects, Falls and Infections

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”), between October of 2008 and June of 2010, more than 11,000 Medicare-eligible patients received care and treatment at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York.

During that time period, at least two patients experienced a 100% preventable surgical complication known as a gossypiboma or textiloma, which is when an object like a sponge, pad, or gauze are accidentally left inside a patient after the incision is closed. For this adverse incident category, Crouse’s rate per discharge of 0.609 was more than six times the national rate per discharge of 0.09.

“CMS’ report is significant because it lifts the veil of secrecy surrounding medical mistakes at area hospitals,” said Syracuse medical malpractice lawyer Michael A. Bottar, of Bottar Law, LLC. “These statistics do not include errors affecting non-Medicare-eligible patients.”