Dallas Hospital Board Declines to Release Safety Report

The board of Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas, has cited legal concerns and declined to make public a report on improving patient safety.

Outside monitors in January recommended improving 15 departments, including outpatient clinics and psychiatric services.

The Dallas Morning News reports Parkland’s board met with an attorney Monday, then refused to release the report amid concerns over possible lawsuits.

A psychiatric emergency patient died in 2011. Parkland later reached an agreement with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which threatened to drop the hospital’s Medicare funding, for improvements. A lawsuit over the death was filed last month.

Parkland’s interim CEO, Dr. Thomas Royer, in January said the report would be released after approved by CMS. That agency has not yet decided whether to release the review.