Detroit News: Lawmakers seek assurances of safety at Ann Arbor VA
December 14, 2015
Two Michigan lawmakers are inquiring whether the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System has solved its problem of particulate matter on sterile surgical equipment after reports that surgeries have resumed at the hospital.
Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, and Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, wrote Friday to Ann Arbor Director Robert P. McDivitt explaining that they'd received calls about surgeries taking place, despite the continued presence of particulate matter on equipment.
"We want to work with you to ensure that you have the resources you need to fix this problem as soon as possible, and we want to be partners with you in this effort," the lawmakers wrote.
"We also want to seek your assurances that the safety of patients continues to be your top priority, and that surgeries are not being conducted in unsafe conditions."
The health care system was investigated last year for a similar issue, but the U.S. Office of Special Counsel and the VA inspector general later verified that changes were made at the hospital to resolve the issue.
Derek Atkinson, a spokesman for the health care system, said two of three sterilizers are back on line, with the third expected to be up and running over the weekend. Officials are hoping to resume a full surgery schedule next week.
The hospital had suspended surgeries for a period in mid-November after staffers noticed a "speck" of micro-particulates — inorganic material — in a surgical equipment case.
Officials believe the problem originated with a water main break in the hospital sterilization processing area. The particulate matter was not found on any surgical tools, Atkinson said.
Specialists were brought in to evaluate the problem, and vendors for the hospital's equipment sterilizers performed a deep cleaning, during which they inadvertently damaged some equipment, Atkinson said.
The sterilization process at Ann Arbor was subsequently shut down and relocated to the Detroit VA for eight days, while the vendors returned to make repairs, Atkinson said.
"We're thankful for the Detroit VA for coming in and helping us out and letting us use their space. Now, everything is back here in Ann Arbor," he said.
Atkinsons stressed that no veterans have been put in harm's way.
"We did a small amount of cases today, and they went really well. There wasn't any particulate that was found, so we've come a long way," he said.
Click here to read the original story in the Detroit News.
Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, and Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, wrote Friday to Ann Arbor Director Robert P. McDivitt explaining that they'd received calls about surgeries taking place, despite the continued presence of particulate matter on equipment.
"We want to work with you to ensure that you have the resources you need to fix this problem as soon as possible, and we want to be partners with you in this effort," the lawmakers wrote.
"We also want to seek your assurances that the safety of patients continues to be your top priority, and that surgeries are not being conducted in unsafe conditions."
The health care system was investigated last year for a similar issue, but the U.S. Office of Special Counsel and the VA inspector general later verified that changes were made at the hospital to resolve the issue.
Derek Atkinson, a spokesman for the health care system, said two of three sterilizers are back on line, with the third expected to be up and running over the weekend. Officials are hoping to resume a full surgery schedule next week.
The hospital had suspended surgeries for a period in mid-November after staffers noticed a "speck" of micro-particulates — inorganic material — in a surgical equipment case.
Officials believe the problem originated with a water main break in the hospital sterilization processing area. The particulate matter was not found on any surgical tools, Atkinson said.
Specialists were brought in to evaluate the problem, and vendors for the hospital's equipment sterilizers performed a deep cleaning, during which they inadvertently damaged some equipment, Atkinson said.
The sterilization process at Ann Arbor was subsequently shut down and relocated to the Detroit VA for eight days, while the vendors returned to make repairs, Atkinson said.
"We're thankful for the Detroit VA for coming in and helping us out and letting us use their space. Now, everything is back here in Ann Arbor," he said.
Atkinsons stressed that no veterans have been put in harm's way.
"We did a small amount of cases today, and they went really well. There wasn't any particulate that was found, so we've come a long way," he said.
Click here to read the original story in the Detroit News.
Issues:VeteransLocal Issues