CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The state has come back with a risk assessment of the Mecklenburg County Health Department following an investigation into high-profile mistakes there.
The department failed to notify more than 100 women of abnormal Pap-smear results then mistakenly released private patient information.
The county is not quite in the clear yet but the results from the state's review show the Health Department is on the right track
The county asked North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services to review the Health Department after the Pap-smear results incident.
Health Dpt employees are speaking in favor of Dr Marcus Plescia. "We're going through some things right now but we will be stronger" @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/RGqzyEIAgI
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 16, 2017
The DHHS has done seven clinic reviews and results from four of them are back.
The state is recommending several changes in the county's Family Planning Department, including collecting data about Pap smears electronically instead of on paper.
The state also wants the Health Department to be clearer with program policies and standing orders for nurses.
Dozens of @MeckCounty health department employees are at #MeckBOCC tonight to support health director Dr Marcus Plescia @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/npc9QT9B6q
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 16, 2017
After reviewing most of the clinics, the state has decided to declare the county as low risk.
“I would like to thank the county manager and the assistant county manager for the support,” Dr. Marcus Plescia , the county health director, said Tuesday. “This is a reflection on everybody's work, and I am very concerned about it and I want us to get through it so you can have confidence the work we do is top notch.”
There are still two third-party companies reviewing the Health Department and changes could be made.
Dozens of county Health Department employees went to the government center to show Plescia support.
“We are going through some things right now, but we will come out stronger after that,” Supervisor Jeff Edwards-Knight said.
Plescia said he promises to restore trust in the county Health Department.
“This is a reflection on everyone who works there, and certainly me,” Plescia said. “I want us to get through it so you can have confidence in the work we do is top notch.”
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