Providence, Legacy warn thousands of patients of possible exposure to hepatitis, HIV – The Lund Report

A former Oregon Anesthesiology Group physician is suspected of having violated infection control standards, but so far the allegations have not been linked to any patient infections, authorities say

Roughly 2,400 patients may have been exposed to hepatitis B and C as well as HIV as a result of a physician not following safety practices during medical procedures.

Providence Health & Services and Legacy Health are contacting patients who may have acquired infections while receiving care at three hospitals: Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham, Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City and Providence Portland Medical Center.

A provider who previously worked for the Oregon Anesthesiology Group, an independent company that contracts with hospitals to provide anesthesiologists, is suspected of not adhering to infection control procedures, according to the health systems, who issued statements about the situation Thursday.

Patients are at alow risk of exposure to bloodborne infections, according to Providence. The hospital systems are conducting investigations in consultation with the Oregon Health Authoritys program on hospital-acquired infections, according to the agency.

Thus far, neither (Oregon Health Authority) nor the hospitals are aware of any reports of illness associated with this infection control breach, according to a statement issued by the agency.

The Oregon Anesthesiology Group issued its own statement:The safety of our patients is our top priority. When we learned that the physician had violated infection control practices, we suspended him, informed our partners Legacy Health and Providence, and then began an investigation that resulted in the physicians termination. Even though the risk of infection was low, new protocols and procedures have been put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The provider thought to be responsible has not been identified. The hospital systems investigations center around a health care provider who provided care during medical and surgical procedures requiring intravenous (IV) anesthesia at the hospitals during different periods with unacceptable infection control practices, which put patients at risk of infections, according to the health authority.

The suspected provider worked at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center for approximately six months beginning in December of 2023 according to Legacys statement. Legacy is sending letters to 221 patients who may have been exposed, and the hospital system immediately suspended the provider and launched a comprehensive investigation in accordance with regulations and with our policies and procedures after becoming aware of the situation.

According to Providence, the physician thought to be involved provided care at the health systems facilities between 2017 and 2023, and is no longer employed by the Oregon Anesthesiology Group.

The hospital system is sending letters and using the MyChart patient portal to notify approximately 2,200 patients seen at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center as well as two patients seen at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are encouraging these patients to get a blood test to screen for the aforementioned infections, at no cost. If a patient tests positive, Providence will reach out to discuss their test results and next steps, according to the Providence statement. Patient safety is our number one priority, and our patients have our full commitment to a thorough review of this issue and appropriate action.

Providence cut ties with the Oregon Anesthesiology Group last year after having contracted with the physician-owned professional corporation since 1989.

Province instead hired Sound Physicians, a Tacoma, Washington-based staffing firm with a national presence and backing from private investors, to provide anesthesiologists. The health system faced criticism after Sound Physicians struggled to secure enough anesthesiologists, leading to numerous delayed and canceled surgeries.

About one in 31 hospital patients in the U.S. has at least one hospital-acquired infection on any given day, according to the state.

State health officials press release acknowledged that news of the safety violations may be distressing for some people. It added that highly qualified professionals are employed in Oregon to try to minimize hospital-acquired infections.

The health authoritys Health Facility Licensing & Certification Program accepts complaints and can launch investigations against hospitals for potential violations of state and federal requirements.

So far, state officials reportedly are not conducting their own investigation at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center or Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center.