Metropolitan Family Planning Clinic – Suitland

Abortion clinic license for Metropolitan Family Planning Clinic (Suitland, MD).

Response letter for FOIA records request for Metropolitan Family Planning Clinic (Suitland, MD).

Multiple violations mostly related to failure to sanitize instruments and failure to prevent the spread of infections between patients.

Violations included: 2 of 3 staff did not receive training on facility policies, 5 of 5 staff did not have competency to provide patient care or infection control, no documented policy or procedures for care, 3 of 3 staff did not have a job description or qualifications, 4 of 4 staff did not have evidence that they are free of communicable diseases, patient safety practices and emergency drills not in place, out-of-date fire extinguisher, the ultrasound machine was not maintained or inspected to verify it was functioning properly, autoclave also not inspected or maintained, biomedical equipment not maintained or inspected, 2 of 2 physicians were missing either their credentials or resume, 2 of 3 physicians's files were missing information about prior claims against them and did not include National Practitioner Database information, 2 of 2 physicians did not meet performance review protocol, 2 of 2 staff did not have current training in cardiac life support or certification, 2 of 2 non-anesthesia staff administered anesthesia without the presence of a licensed healthcare professional, 5 of 5 staff did not have basic life support certification, oxygen was not available in the procedure rooms, procedure rooms not properly equipped with resuscitation equipment and monitoring equipment and telephone, no automatic external defibrillator on the premises, equipment to measure patient's oxygen level not on site, suction machine for patient emergencies not on site, 3 of 3 staff members do not have training for emergency hospitalization transfer procedure, the RN did not identify or discard expired drugs and IV supplies (over 19 cases from many years ago including one that expired in 1987), no measures to implement infection control, sterilization equipment not tested, sonogram room exam table has upholstery cracks and tape and the drawers in exam table are dirty with dark stains and debris, 8 expired supplies in the GYN room, procedure room #1 has multiple expired supplies, procedure room #1 exam table has 7-inch rip in upholstery and drawers with dark stains and debris, procedure room #2 has expired curettes and expired disinfectant, no performance improvement plan in place. 27 pages of violations.

By law, the Plan of Corrections or POC must be submitted within 10 days, but you will note here that the Maryland Board of Health Care Quality allowed the clinic to continue FIVE MONTHS after the Oct 2015 survey -- with no POC and no discipline or fine -- despite their second round of egregious violations.