ATLANTA,None — Piedmont Hospital flunked two of its most recent health inspections, receiving a 61 for patient food and a 68 for cafeteria food out of a possible 100.
According to public health records, Fulton County health inspectors found grilled meat and fish held at unsafe temperatures; food service employees failing to properly wash their hands; and chemicals being stored next to food.
Hospital spokesman Jim Taylor summed up the findings in four words for Channel 2's Diana Davis.
"This is an embarrassment," said Taylor.
The health department, which issued the unsatisfactory scores last week, is already working with the hospital to correct the problems.
"We did have a situation where there was a cleaning solution that was not properly marked next to some cooking oil," said Taylor.
"We bring them in for an intervention hearing and sit down and talk with them about the violations and also we send an education team out on site," said health department representative Kevin Jones.
Liver transplant patient Jauantia Wingo told Davis that she was in Piedmont for six months and never had complaints or problems with the food.
READ: Patient Feeding Inspection Report READ: Cafeteria Food Inspection Report
The failing scores came as a shock.
"I hope they can get it back to the quality that it was when I was here because if it had been failing when I was here, I don't think I would be here," said Wingo.
A spokesman for Piedmont said this is the hospital's first failing grade and that it has a history of excellent inspection scores, adding that some of the poor scores were due to improper documentation.
"The inspectors did not witness washing hands, but we were washing hands. It was just not something they saw," said Taylor.
Health inspectors will be back at the hospital Wednesday.
Fulton County is responsible for inspecting about 4,700 restaurant and food service spots. The department said the goal is to inspect them twice a year.
WSBTV
