Cook County North Shore Hospital performed no colonoscopies in June 2009 after nearly five years of conducting the testing. According to Hospital Administrator Diane Pearson the hospital was taking time to “evaluate” the program. In June, Pearson declined providing information as to why procedures had been stopped, but on July 20, 2009, she issued a press release explaining why the evaluation had been necessary—and what steps patients who had undergone colonoscopies should take.
The press release from Pearson states, “In June of this year, there were questions raised as to the efficacy of one step of the disinfection process used at North Shore Hospital to clean and sterilize the equipment used to perform colonoscopies. Disinfection of endoscopes between patients is intended to help minimize the potential spread of infections from patient to patient. Thisis a multiple step cleaning process, and each step serves to reduce the potential for spread of infection.”
Speaking for the hospital was Attorney Mark Solheim of Larson King, LLP in St. Paul, who said that many of the steps in the disinfection process are “redundant.”
Solheim said the concern about the disinfection process was raised by “the conscientious staff members of the hospital as part of its ongoing quality assurance process.”
According to the press release, a review of the colonoscopies performed during this time indicates that no procedures were performed on patients known to carry an infectious disease. It states, “In addition, the cleaning process that did take place served to greatly reduce the risk of infection.”
The press release went on to reassure patients, “While we have no reason to believe that any patient may have been exposed to infection during the course of a colonoscopy, out of an abundance of caution, North Shore Hospital has taken steps to identify patients who underwent a colonoscopy at North Shore Hospital during the period of time that the endoscopes may not have been properly disinfected. North Shore Hospital has contacted those patients to offer blood testing for infectious diseases including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
Although neither Solheim nor Pearson would provide the dates of when the procedures were performed, Solheim said letters had been sent to 30 patients.
Solheim reiterated that the hospital had implemented a more rigorous program for colonoscopy disinfection, adding, “We do not believe the protocol was compromised but instead we have taken steps to improve the process as part of our ongoing quality assurance to provide the community with excellent medical care.”
North Shore Hospital and Sawtooth Mountain Clinic began collaborating to offer colonoscopy services in Cook County in January 2004.
In a June 2009 phone interview, Pearson expressed support for the program noting, “Overall, I think people have appreciated this service and at this point we feel it is a positive program that we do not want to discontinue.”
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