Chapter 9 - THE HEARING THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The hospital scheduled an internal review.
My attorney, Sarah Mitchell, attended with me.
Nathaniel and Evelyn provided written statements.
Dr. Brooks submitted the preserved audit records.
The hearing began at nine.
Richard Bellamy sat at the head of the table.
Mallory sat beside him.
Grant Hale appeared confident.
The hospital attorney asked me to explain why I'd altered the chart.
I took a breath.
“I didn't alter another clinician's notes. I entered my own assessment and identified discrepancies requiring review.”
She nodded.
“And why did you request an interpreter?”
“Because the patient was deaf and needed effective communication to participate in his care.”
Grant leaned forward.
“Colonel Reed was uncooperative.”
I looked at him.
“Did you communicate with him using a qualified interpreter?”
He hesitated.
“No.”
“Did you offer written communication?”
“We attempted—”
“Did you document the method used?”
Silence.
Sarah placed the audit report on the table.
It showed that the disputed consent attachment had been uploaded from a workstation assigned to Grant Hale.
The signature had not been verified.
Bellamy's expression tightened.
“This is highly irregular.”
Dr. Brooks spoke.
“Yes.”
Then she placed another folder on the table.
“And it isn't the only irregularity.”
The room went silent.
Dr. Brooks had identified a pattern of disputed consent records involving several veterans transferred through Sentinel.
Some had been documented as refusing treatment without evidence of accessible communication.
Others had billing discrepancies.
Bellamy stared at the documents.
Mallory went pale.
Grant stopped smiling.
Sarah looked at the review panel.
May you like
“This matter requires independent investigation.”
For the first time, nobody argued.
