Cape Fear Valley Medical Center has been removed from "immediate jeopardy" status following a review from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The review came after the Oct. 6 discovery that unsterilized medical instruments had been processed and distributed into the hospital. Hospital officials contacted physicians and patients about the potential for bacterial infection. As of early November, no patients had reported problems.

Cape Fear Valley was put on "immediate jeopardy" status pending a federal review and faced the potential loss of federal funding. The hospital receives almost 70 percent of its funding from Medicare and Medicaid.

In response, Cape Fear administrators developed new procedures for sterilization and documentation, as well as a two-person check of all surgical instrument trays before they are distributed into the hospital. Another check has been added in the Operating Rooms.

"We take seriously our commitment to patient safety and quality," said Dr. Pinckney McIlwain, Vice President of Clinical Quality and Patient Safety. "As a result of thse changes, we are now in the forefront of patient safety for hospitals as it relates to assuring sterilization of surgical instruments."