MACHIAS, Maine (AP) — A Machias hospital is under heightened government scrutiny after an investigation turned up procedural failures in emergency room treatment.

The Bangor Daily News says a document from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services shows that Down East Community Hospital did not provide proper care for a patient in October. The unidentified patient later died, but federal officials could not determine if the death was linked to the hospital treatment.

Hospital spokeswoman Robin Popp declined comment pending completion of a full federal survey.

The hospital has been instituting policy changes following a January 2008 incident in which a patient who checked out of the hospital on a snowy night was found dead in a nearby snowbank from hypothermia and an accidental drug overdose.

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