More than 2,400 patients in hospitals around Portland, Oregon, may have been exposed to infectious diseases like hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV, due to an anesthesiologist who may not have followed proper infection control practices, according to officials.
Providence recently announced that approximately 2,200 individuals who were seen at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City, along with two patients at Providence Portland Medical Center, may have been at low risk of exposure to potential infections because of the physician’s actions. These patients are being encouraged to undergo free blood tests to screen for any infections, with Providence offering support and guidance for those who test positive.
The anesthesiologist, who worked at Oregon Anesthesiology Group and the Providence facilities from 2017 to 2023, also had a brief stint at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham. Legacy Health is in the process of notifying 221 patients who may have been impacted by the physician’s inadequate infection control practices.
Following the discovery of the violations, the physician has been terminated by the Oregon Anesthesiology Group. While the risk of infection was deemed low, new protocols and procedures have been established to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The Oregon Health Authority is actively involved in investigations surrounding the breach, focusing on the physician’s delivery of intravenous anesthesia and the use of unacceptable infection control practices that endangered patients. Collaborating with Legacy Health and Providence, OHA is closely monitoring the situation. Fortunately, there have been no reports of illnesses linked to this infection control breach so far.
It is crucial for patients who may have been affected to heed the advice of health officials and undergo the recommended blood tests to ensure their well-being. The implementation of stricter protocols and procedures in healthcare facilities is essential to prevent such lapses in infection control and safeguard the health of all patients in the future. Let us all remain vigilant and prioritize patient safety above all else.
