The president of the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center says the hospital's Medicare and Medicaid funding could be in jeopardy after an investigation found two nurses failed to provide proper care for a patient who died in the Bennington emergency room.
Southwestern Vermont President Thomas Dee made the comments while announcing that an outside investigation determined hospital policies were not followed after the patient arrived complaining of back pain.
Following an initial assessment by nurses, the patient was found dead by a non-clinical staff member. The staffer notified the two nurses who were initially caring for the patient; neither responded.
Another nurse later alerted a doctor.
The cause of the patient's death is unknown.
The hospital reported the incident to the state Oct. 2. Officials didn't say when the patient died.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.