The program was investigated for submitting Medicare claims for patient services provided by unsupervised residents, Aldrich said. Medicare billing regulations require that faculty members or attending physicians supervise the work of residents, Aldrich said. The surgeries happened between 1992 and 1996 and there was no evidence to indicate they happened on specific days or when specific physicians were on call, Aldrich said. No episodes were found after 1996, she said. Hospital system spokeswoman Betsy McMillan said patient safety was never in danger.
Residents are licensed physicians.
They would not be able to practice if they weren't clinically capable of providing care, so there was no compromise in care, and the investigation never centered around quality of care. Aldrich agreed that the investigation showed patient care was not compromised during the period in question.