Mammography violations bring fines

The Nevada State Health Division has fined Desert Springs Hospital and Medical Center $1.14 million for more than 200 violations in its mammography department, including failing to document whether its mammogram system was operating as it should before some patient exams in 2007, health officials announced Wednesday.

Because of the violations, 92 patient records were missing, and the patients had to undergo additional screenings, the health division said.

The records in question, which Desert Springs officials said were misplaced, would have shown whether tests had been conducted to ensure the mammogram system was operating properly before the patients underwent mammograms, said Ed Sweeten, supervisor of the health division's Bureau of Health Quality and Compliance Radiological Health Section.

source: Las Vegas Review Journal