BOSTON -- A Stoughton hospital has suspended new patient admissions because of safety concerns.

New England Sinai Hospital made the decision to stop accepting new patients after a recent Department of Public Health inspection identified several serious concerns regarding documentation procedures, skin and wound care, intravenous medications and overall patient safety at the hospital.

Hospital officials said they reported two patient care incidents to the Department of Public Health, one regarding wound care and the second relating to a complication involving an intravenous line.

"Given our deep and unrelenting commitment to ensuring that all patients at New England Sinai receive the highest quality of care, we decided to proactively suspend new admissions to offer us the time and space to understand and address these areas of concern," said Judith C. Waterston, BSN, MS, president and CEO of New England Sinai. "Our first priority at this time is ensuring that the entire institution -- from leadership to clinical staff -- is focused on safe, effective and high quality patient care."

The hospital agreed with the state that the issues require immediate action, and the hospital is working cooperatively with state regulators on a corrective plan of action.

"This is why DPH conducts inspections of hospitals, nursing homes and other health care institutions," said DPH Commissioner John Auerbach. "Our findings provide an opportunity for these facilities to take a critical look at their safety systems, identify issues of concern, and move proactively to improve overall patient care and safety."

All patients and their families have been notified by the hospital of these actions.

"We are confident that New England Sinai, working with DPH, will be able to address this situation promptly and effectively," Auerbach said.

New England Sinai will resume admissions once a comprehensive action plan to address the issues is fully developed and under way, the hospital said in a statement.