Many Richmond-area hospitals haven't had mandated state inspections
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After CBS 6 broke the news that Virginia is overdue on nearly every single state hospital inspection, CBS 6 Investigative Reporter Melissa Hipolit has now learned the state may not have been doing these inspections at all.
The inspections are mandated under state law Virginia Code 32.1-126(B) and are supposed to happen every two years as a way for the state to ensure hospitals are protecting the health, safety and rights of patients.
But public records obtained from the Virginia Department of Health show those inspections haven't happened in years, or perhaps not at all, at Richmond-area hospitals.
CBS 6 received the most recent state licensure inspections from VDH for nine Central Virginia hospitals and found just three state licensure inspections.
The Children's Tower at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU had a state licensure inspection in April 2023. Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital had one in December 2009. Henrico Doctors' Hospital had one in November 2006.
For the others — Bon Secours Memorial Regional, Richmond Community, Southside Regional, St. Francis, HCA's Chippenham Johnston Willis Hospital, TriCities Hospital and VCU Health's Medical Center — there was no record of the most recent state licensure inspection.
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