More than 700 babies exposed to TB at Texas hospital

9/22/2014

EL PASO (AP) -- The West Texas hospital where more than 700 infants were exposed to tuberculosis over the past year says it will work with federal authorities to show its procedures were adequate.

A Providence Memorial Hospital nursery employee tested positive for TB in August and was placed on leave. Health officials believe she may have exposed infants and about 40 other hospital workers starting in September 2013.

A Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services deputy regional administrator, David Wright, says an inspection of the hospital by regulators revealed several violations. He says the violations could threaten the hospital's Medicare funding and posed "an immediate jeopardy to patient safety."

Providence Memorial spokeswoman Audrey Garcia says hospital officials look forward to collaborating with CMS to prove their actions were effective.

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