Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:46 AM Jun 2014

Federal agency cites Buffalo VA’s violation of sterilization procedure standards

&maxW=602&maxH=602&AlignV=top&Q=80

Jerry Zremski

WASHINGTON – Employees at the Buffalo VA Medical Center have violated safety standards for sterilizing medical equipment, the federal agency charged with investigating whistle-blower complaints said Monday.

The Office of Special Counsel cited the problems at the Buffalo facility in a letter to President Obama in which it said that at health facilities nationwide, the VA often admits to deficiencies in its patient care while implausibly denying that those problems affect veterans’ health.

For example, in Buffalo, the VA’s Office of the Medical Inspector “substantiated a whistle-blower’s allegation that health care professionals do not always comply with VA sterilization standards for wearing personal protective equipment and that these workers occasionally failed to place indicator strips in surgical trays and mislabeled sterile instruments,” the letter to the president said.

Yet while acknowledging those problems, “OMI did not believe that the confirmed allegations affected patient safety,” Special Counsel Carolyn M. Lerner wrote.

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/medical/federal-agency-cites-buffalo-vas-violation-of-sterilization-procedure-standards-20140623
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»New York»Federal agency cites Buff...