NEWS RELEASE
VA Identifies Possible Infection Risk, Notifies Patients
Fargo, ND - The Fargo Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is notifying 159 veterans who have undergone procedures using ear, nose and throat (ENT) endoscopes that they may possibly have been exposed to an infection because the instrument used in the procedure was improperly disinfected. According to VA, the risk of infection is extremely small.
"Our top priority is to ensure our patients are safe," said Robert P. McDivitt, director of the medical center. "Although there is a very small chance patients were even exposed to infection, it is our practice to notify those under our care to the slightest of risks."
A VA inspection team, including experts in Quality Management, Infection Control, Patient Safety, and Public Health, found that while the endoscopes in question were being cleaned after each procedure, some may not have undergone the proper level of disinfection. Over the past 12 years, 2,048 patients received treatment with the endoscopic equipment. However, through the use of VA’s electronic medical record system, the VA inspection team was quickly able to verify that only 159 patients faced even a very small risk of infection. Those veterans are being notified through personal phone calls and mailings.
VA is offering free testing to the identified veterans and will provide them with additional medical care if it is needed. Patients with questions may call 1-866-517-9363 between 8AM and 4:30PM for additional information. Testing will be performed at the Fargo VAMC, or at any of the facility’s community-based outpatient clinics which are located in Jamestown, Bismarck, Dickinson, Minot, Williston, Grafton, Bemidji and Fergus Falls. Veterans who live outside of these areas will be scheduled at their nearest VA medical center or VA clinic.
|
