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HealthAdvisory - Hep A
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Health Advisory Regarding Hepatitis C
October 1, 2009 - Update to Hepatitis C Health Advisory Out of an abundance of caution, we contacted 2,767 patients who had surgery at NWH in the main operating rooms between October 8, 2007 and February 28, 2008 to encourage them to come to NWH to be tested for Hepatitis C relating to the incident that occurred in Colorado. After rigorous testing and based on all of the information we have received to date, we conclude, with concurrence from the NY State Department of Health, who worked very closely with us through the testing process, that there is no evidence to suggest that any transmission of hepatitis C occurred at Northern Westchester Hospital.
July 24, 2009 - Update to Hepatitis C Health Advisory
Patient care and safety are Northern Westchester Hospital's top priorities. Thus, out of an abundance of caution, we contacted 2,767 patients who had surgery at NWH in the main operating rooms between October 8, 2007 and February 28, 2008 to encourage them to come to NWH to be tested for Hepatitis C relating to the incident that occurred in Colorado.
As of July 23rd close to 1000 patients have been tested and based upon initial results we reaffirm our belief that the risk of infection to our patients continues to be low. There has been no evidence to date that any transmission of Hepatitis C occurred at NWH relating to the events that occurred in Colorado. We are continuing to work with patients to complete screenings over the coming weeks and encourage those patients that haven't been screened to do so. July 15, 2009 - Statement from Northern Westchester Hospital On Thursday, July 9, 2009, Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) was contacted by the New York State Department of Health about a former employee, Kristen Diane Parker, who has been arrested in Colorado on federal drug charges related to her work at a Colorado hospital. This individual has tested positive for hepatitis C and admitted to federal investigators that she was stealing syringes with the powerful narcotic Fentanyl and replacing all or part with saline solution. The FDA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are investigating. Prior to her employment at the hospital in Colorado, Parker worked in Northern Westchester Hospital's Operating Room, as a surgical technician, for a period of time between October 2007 and February 2008. She was terminated from NWH for performance issues unrelated to the types of activities at the center of the Colorado charges. According to the criminal complaint filed in Denver, Parker claims that she was using intravenous drugs and sharing needles, after her employment with NWH, while living in New Jersey, and is 99.5% sure this was how she was exposed to HCV. Northern Westchester Hospital has a rigorous screening process for all of its employment candidates, and conducts ongoing monitoring of clinical competency for all of its clinical staff. We do drug screening for all potential candidates and would not hire someone who did not pass the drug test. Because patient care and safety are our top priorities, and out of an abundance of caution, we contacted all of the 2,767 patients who had surgery at NWH in the main operating rooms between October 8, 2007 and February 28, 2008. We sent letters via overnight mail on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, to encourage them to come to NWH to be tested for Hepatitis C. Although we believe that our patients' actual risk of infection is low, we and the NYS Department of Health are recommending that patients who had surgery at NWH during the time of this individual's employment at NWH be tested for hepatitis C. In this circumstance, testing for hepatitis B and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is not warranted. If you already know that you are positive for hepatitis C, there is no need for additional testing. Click here for New York Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control websites.
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Physician Referral Service | 1.877.4.NWH.DOC |
