PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) – Legacy Health and Providence released separate statements Thursday saying doctors ignored infection control procedures, potentially exposing thousands of patients to the disease.
Legacy Health said it is sending letters to 221 patients informing them of the breach.
“Patient safety is our top priority, and we are in the process of sending letters to notify the 221 patients who may have been affected,” Legacy Health said in a statement. “Upon learning of this situation, we immediately suspended the provider and initiated a comprehensive investigation in accordance with regulations and our own policies and procedures. Our community should be aware that this is an isolated situation involving a single provider contracted with Oregon Anesthesia Group to provide care at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center for approximately six months beginning in December 2023.”
Providence said about 2,200 patients treated at Portland-area hospitals, including Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, Providence Portland Medical Center and other hospitals outside Providence, may have been infected.
Providence said the doctor was employed by Oregon Anesthesiology Group (OAG), which no longer provides services to Providence, and that the doctor is no longer employed by OAG.
“This physician’s actions may have put patients at small risk for exposure to infectious diseases, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV),” Providence said in a statement. “Approximately 2,200 patients seen at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and two patients seen at Providence Portland Medical Center have been notified. These patients have received mailed letters and MyChart notifications.”
Out of an abundance of caution, Providence is encouraging these patients to get a free blood test to screen for any of the above exposures. If a patient tests positive, Providence will contact the patient to discuss the results and next steps.
The OAG released the following statement on Thursday:
“Patient safety is our top priority. When we learned that the physician violated infection control practices, we suspended him, notified our partners, Legacy Health and Providence, launched an investigation and terminated the physician. Although the risk of infection was low, new protocols and procedures have been put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
The Fox 12 Investigates team wants to hear from you: If you or a family member have been notified of a possible exposure to a communicable disease, please let us know. here.
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