Miami Hospital Ordered to Halt Mammograms Over Concerns

Patients who relied on North Shore Medical Center in South Florida for mammograms over the past two years may be facing unsettling news: the results of their screenings could be inaccurate.

This revelation has led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to step in, ordering the hospital to halt all mammogram services and alert patients to the potential issue. The discovery comes at a challenging time for North Shore, which, along with its parent company Steward Health Care System, is grappling with significant financial difficulties, including a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and the potential sale of its hospitals.

The potentially inaccurate mammograms were conducted between March 14, 2022, and March 14, 2024. North Shore Medical Center, which is owned by Steward Health Care System, has been dealing with financial struggles, including cutbacks and layoffs, as Steward seeks bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11, filed in May. Steward is currently looking to sell all 31 of its hospitals, including several in Florida.

Cathy Pague, a spokesperson for North Shore Medical Center, acknowledged the issue in an email to the Miami Herald, stating that the mammograms performed during this period were not up to industry standards and may have led to inaccurate interpretations. The hospital has contacted affected patients and their physicians, as required by the FDA, and is covering the costs of reevaluations and new screenings for those who have not had follow-up tests. These additional screenings must be conducted at another certified facility within the hospital's network or at a partner facility for the costs to be covered by North Shore.