ND hospital makes changes after babies switched

Eds: APNewsNow.

Bismarck, N.D. (AP) Officials at Williston's Mercy Medical Center say procedures have been changed after the parents of a newborn went home with the wrong baby.

Mercy Chief Financial Officer Kerry Monson says a baby's movement is logged each time it is taken from a bassinet for changing and feeding. She says babies are not allowed to leave the hospital until a wristband is double-checked against paperwork.

The hospital says a baby was sent home with the wrong parents in September but the mistake was discovered within an hour and the parents were reunited the correct child.

Monson would not identify the families involved.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-10-09 1839CST