Post by Logan on Feb 4, 2016 1:26:11 GMT -6
2,900 patients at Colorado hospital may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C after employee drug theft discovered
Some 2,900 patients at the Swedish Medical Center in Colorado are encouraged to be tested for HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B after a surgical technician allegedly stole drugs from the hospital, officials said.
The former hospital employee has not been arrested, but Englewood police are investigating the alleged theft, Sgt. Brian Cousineau told the Daily News.
All patients who had surgery at the facility any time between Aug. 17, 2015, and Jan. 22 “are receiving calls and letters to notify them of the potential for exposure and to request that they take a free, confidential blood test to screen for these viruses,” Swedish said in a statement announcing the investigation.
“We deeply regret that one of our former employees may have put patients at risk, and are sorry for any uncertainty or anxiety this may cause,” said Richard A. Hammett, President and CEO of the Swedish Medical Center. “Please know our first concern is the health, care, safety and privacy of our patients and we are working diligently to look after the wellbeing of the patients who may have been affected by the wrongful actions of this individual.”
Read more: www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/3k-patients-colo-hospital-possibly-exposed-hiv-hep-article-1.2519531
Some 2,900 patients at the Swedish Medical Center in Colorado are encouraged to be tested for HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B after a surgical technician allegedly stole drugs from the hospital, officials said.
The former hospital employee has not been arrested, but Englewood police are investigating the alleged theft, Sgt. Brian Cousineau told the Daily News.
All patients who had surgery at the facility any time between Aug. 17, 2015, and Jan. 22 “are receiving calls and letters to notify them of the potential for exposure and to request that they take a free, confidential blood test to screen for these viruses,” Swedish said in a statement announcing the investigation.
“We deeply regret that one of our former employees may have put patients at risk, and are sorry for any uncertainty or anxiety this may cause,” said Richard A. Hammett, President and CEO of the Swedish Medical Center. “Please know our first concern is the health, care, safety and privacy of our patients and we are working diligently to look after the wellbeing of the patients who may have been affected by the wrongful actions of this individual.”
Read more: www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/3k-patients-colo-hospital-possibly-exposed-hiv-hep-article-1.2519531