Inspection finds Harrisburg abortion provider lacked basic staff and safeguards

(Harrisburg) — A midstate abortion provider is facing questions after an inspection report revealed several major issues.

Regulators found more than 10 violations at Hillcrest Women’s Medical Center in Harrisburg.

An inspection in late March showed Hillcrest failed to have a OBGYN board-certified doctor on duty and lacked nurses to attend to patients after an abortion.

According to the state Department of Health, it also had expired medication and supplies on hand, and some staff didn’t have the necessary child clearances.

The report was recently made public.

Maria Gallagher with the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation says all the violations are egregious.

“I’ve been looking at these inspection reports ever since our law was passed requiring the unannounced inspections, and it’s been a very rare occasion where I have seen a report of this magnitude,” she says.

Gallagher says the report shows the value of Pennsylvania’s regulations on abortion.

“I think they’re all egregious. I think they all jeopardize patient health and safety. I think if you have a doctor that doesn’t have the proper credentials, why on Earth are you open for business?” she adds.

Hillcrest is a member of the National Abortion Federation.

Neither organization would comment.

Regulators have since approved Hillcrest’s plan to get back into compliance with state law.