Over 2,400 Hospital Patients in Oregon Warned of Possible Exposure to Infectious Diseases | US News
Health officials in Oregon are alerting over 2,400 hospital patients about potential exposure to infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis B and C due to a doctor’s failure to follow proper procedures at Providence and Legacy health facilities in and around Portland.
The Oregon Health Authority is investigating the breach, which involves an anesthesiologist who administered intravenous anesthesia and used inadequate infection control practices that put patients at risk of infections. The exposure is linked to a doctor employed by the Oregon Anaesthesiology Group who no longer works for the group.
The unidentified anesthesiologist worked at two Providence facilities from 2017 to 2023 and at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Centre in Gresham for six months starting in December of the previous year.
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Providence is notifying approximately 2,200 individuals seen at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Centre and two patients seen at Providence Portland Medical Centre about potential low-risk exposure to infections caused by the anesthesiologist’s actions. Officials are recommending them to undergo a free blood test to screen for infections, with Providence offering support and guidance to those who test positive.
Legacy Health is also reaching out to 221 patients who may have been affected, as reported by KGW-TV. The Oregon Anaesthesiology Group confirmed the termination of the anesthesiologist’s contract and implementation of new protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future after discovering the violation of infection control practices.
Oregon Health Authority emphasized collaboration with Legacy and Providence in investigating the breaches of infection control practices, with no reports of associated illness so far.
