PORTLAND, Oregon.COIN) – More than 2,000 patients at two Portland, Oregon, area hospitals may have been exposed to multiple types of infections after a doctor possibly violated hospital protocols, health officials and the Providence and Legacy health systems announced Thursday. fair.
In a statement, the Oregon Health Authority said its healthcare-associated infections program is working with Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center in Gresham and Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City in their investigations into the breached practices.
In the announcement, a Providence spokesperson said the hospital recently learned that a doctor, who has not been publicly identified, may not have followed Providence’s infection control practices during some procedures at Portland-area hospitals, including Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, Providence Portland Medical Center. Center and other non-Providence hospitals.
Providence did not detail what protocols may not have been followed, but said the doctor placed patients at low risk of exposure to infections, including hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The doctor worked for Oregon Anesthesiology Group (OAG), which no longer provides services to Providence, the hospital system spokesperson said, noting that the doctor also no longer works for OAG.
Providence said the hospital is notifying about 2,200 patients cared for at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, along with two patients cared for at Providence Portland Medical Center by mail or a MyChart notification about their possible exposure to infections.
“As a precaution, we are encouraging these patients to undergo a blood test to screen for the aforementioned infections, at no cost. If a patient tests positive, Providence will contact you to discuss the test results and next steps,” Providence said in a statement. “Patient safety is our number one priority, and our patients have our full commitment to a thorough review of this issue and appropriate actions.”
In Thursday’s announcement, OHA said the agency was not aware of any reported illnesses associated with the breach.
“The Oregon Health Authority recognizes the concern, pain and loss suffered by anyone affected by a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) – an infection acquired while receiving care in a hospital or other healthcare facility. According to According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in every 31 hospital patients in the US has at least one HAI on any given day. HAIs can have devastating impacts on patients, as they can increase length of stay and delay recovery from illness. illness, cause emotional distress and can lead to health problems, sepsis or even death, OHA’s response to HAIs may involve different divisions with separate advisory and regulatory roles,” the OHA said.
The state health agency further added, “While news of this infection control breach at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center and Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center may be distressing to some people, it is important to know that health care providers of Oregon employ highly skilled and skilled infections. Additionally, local, state, and federal public health agencies work closely with health care providers to implement effective infection control practices and equip health care providers with the tools. that keep patients, visitors and the public safe.”
A spokesperson for Legacy Health said it is notifying 221 patients who may be affected by the breach.
“Upon becoming aware of this situation, we immediately suspended the provider and initiated a comprehensive investigation in accordance with regulations and our policies and procedures,” reads a statement issued by Legacy Health. “Our community should know that this was an isolated situation involving a single provider, contracted by Oregon Anesthesiology Group to provide care at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center for approximately six months, beginning in December 2023.”
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