(Aired on June 2, 2010)
The fact that police haven't caught the person who deliberately sabotaged surgical tools at Royal Inland Hospital is unfortunate for several different reasons. First, the crime itself is serious. Had the tools made their way into the surgical theatre, they could have caused an infection. That infection could have had serious health consequences for the patient. Of course, the likelihood of that actually happening is extremely remote.
But maybe the more disappointing aspect of the story is that the person who did this is probably thinking that the point was made without any consequences. It's clear that this was done to make a point. Maybe about access to the central sterilization department or maybe about the failure to replace archaic equipment. It doesn't really matter, because there is a way to make a point, and there is a way not to make a point. RCMP and hospital authorities refuse to disclose how the tools were contaminated, presumably because whatever happened would have reinforced the culprit's objective. Credit to the police for doing that because now the point is lost in the method of delivery. All we know is that it was a criminal act that theoretically could have caused serious harm.
It looks like the culprit here has essentially gotten away with sabotaging surgical equipment. If anything can temper the disappointment, it's that the person responsible looks less like a protester or a prophet and more like a pinhead.
Showing posts with label sterilization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sterilization. Show all posts
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
IHA Needs to Clean House
(Aired on March 3, 2010)
The revelation today of yet another case of dirty surgical tools at Royal Inland Hospital is proof positive that the Interior Health Authority has not taken this problem seriously. A caller told us a joint replacement surgery had to be called off this morning after debris was found on one of the surgical instruments. This comes after multiple assurances by people as high up as the C.E.O. of the health authority that everything possible was being done to ensure patient safety.
Now, that's clearly shown to be false.
This story probably tugs at me more than some others because my wife and I are expecting our second child in the next few weeks. This is where it hits home - cleanliness at the hospital is of the utmost concern.
If it comes down to having someone literally inspect every instrument as it comes out of the cleaning and sterilization equipment and before it is repackaged, then so be it. If it comes down to someone losing his or her job, then that's what must be done. If it comes down to biting the bullet and replacing the entire cleaning and sterilization system, then THAT's what must be done.
To be honest, I'm what the kids call "freaked" about this. And I know I'm not the only one.
The time for audits and reviews has come and gone. It's time for action. As news of our dirty O.R. spreads throughout the province, Royal Inland is gaining the kind of reputation it certainly does not want. It's time to clean house.
The revelation today of yet another case of dirty surgical tools at Royal Inland Hospital is proof positive that the Interior Health Authority has not taken this problem seriously. A caller told us a joint replacement surgery had to be called off this morning after debris was found on one of the surgical instruments. This comes after multiple assurances by people as high up as the C.E.O. of the health authority that everything possible was being done to ensure patient safety.
Now, that's clearly shown to be false.
This story probably tugs at me more than some others because my wife and I are expecting our second child in the next few weeks. This is where it hits home - cleanliness at the hospital is of the utmost concern.
If it comes down to having someone literally inspect every instrument as it comes out of the cleaning and sterilization equipment and before it is repackaged, then so be it. If it comes down to someone losing his or her job, then that's what must be done. If it comes down to biting the bullet and replacing the entire cleaning and sterilization system, then THAT's what must be done.
To be honest, I'm what the kids call "freaked" about this. And I know I'm not the only one.
The time for audits and reviews has come and gone. It's time for action. As news of our dirty O.R. spreads throughout the province, Royal Inland is gaining the kind of reputation it certainly does not want. It's time to clean house.
Monday, February 22, 2010
IHA Sweeps Dirty Surgical Tools Under the Rug
(Aired on February 19, 2010)
Under rug swept.
That's what the Interior Health Authority tried its best to do with a news conference today. CEO Dr. Robert Halpenny said he was confident that there has been no inordinate increase in infections because of dirty surgical equipment. He said he was confident that the sterilization equipment was working properly, meaning that even though the tools were technically dirty with blood, bone, and bits of other items, the dirt was clean. He said no human error was involved in the breakdown, so no one will lose their job. He said - first and foremost - the health authority is consumed with patient safety.
You get another idea when you talk with Dr. Richard McLeod. He's the surgeon who was forced to stop a surgery partway through just a few days ago, because the tools of his trade were dirty. Dr. McLeod says the thing that has shocked him the most is the fact that it took so long to do anything.
This issue has come forward long before the threat of media exposure forced to the health authority to really and truly deal with the problem. Certainly, before this week, someone in some position of authority said this is not the type of thing that should result in a full external review and a halt of elective surgeries.
It's that person who deserves the axe.
I am normally one to forgive pretty easily. But in this case, I have to believe someone - an actual human being - is ultimately responsible. And the public's confidence would only have been restored had that person been part of the cleansing.
Under rug swept.
That's what the Interior Health Authority tried its best to do with a news conference today. CEO Dr. Robert Halpenny said he was confident that there has been no inordinate increase in infections because of dirty surgical equipment. He said he was confident that the sterilization equipment was working properly, meaning that even though the tools were technically dirty with blood, bone, and bits of other items, the dirt was clean. He said no human error was involved in the breakdown, so no one will lose their job. He said - first and foremost - the health authority is consumed with patient safety.
You get another idea when you talk with Dr. Richard McLeod. He's the surgeon who was forced to stop a surgery partway through just a few days ago, because the tools of his trade were dirty. Dr. McLeod says the thing that has shocked him the most is the fact that it took so long to do anything.
This issue has come forward long before the threat of media exposure forced to the health authority to really and truly deal with the problem. Certainly, before this week, someone in some position of authority said this is not the type of thing that should result in a full external review and a halt of elective surgeries.
It's that person who deserves the axe.
I am normally one to forgive pretty easily. But in this case, I have to believe someone - an actual human being - is ultimately responsible. And the public's confidence would only have been restored had that person been part of the cleansing.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Asking the Tough Questions
(Aired on February 18, 2010)
The media are often portrayed as "bad guys" because sometimes we seem to be hounding people in our efforts to get answers to serious questions. I don't know how many times over the years I've been accused of badgering seemingly nice people and trying to make them look bad because that's all the media does - create sensational headlines. Isn't that why we do what we do?
But as a newsperson, I have also often been accused of being too nice and being too trusting, and I am. I always look for the good and not the bad. But sometimes you just have to ask the questions. While I am hesitant to judge too quickly, sometimes you have to act.
This week, we were made aware of a situation at Royal Inland Hospital where dirty surgical equipment was an issue for hospital staff. In probing, we find that some people are suggesting this has been a problem for quite some time. Someone has to be held accountable for this issue. Someone has to get to the bottom of it. This is a very dangerous situation. And the news media have been bang on in asking the tough questions. Who knows how long it would have taken to get this story out in the open, or whether serious health repercussions could have occurred, if someone had not tipped us off and we had not followed up.
While the tough questions are not easy, they must sometimes be asked. And while it seems that sometimes we're overly aggressive, and we probably are, still, in dealing with crises like these, the story has to be told. There are times when you have to be a pit bull and bite hard, and hold on until the truth is told. We're still holding on in this one, because at this point, we don't know where the problem is, what caused it, and what solutions will be undertaken to rectify it. I don't think the public would expect anything less, even if we have to ruffle a few feathers, and get under a few peoples' skins to get the answers.
We're not a perfect group, and sometimes we bark up the wrong tree. In this case, I think we've got the right tree, and we're going to keep barking until we get some answers.
The media are often portrayed as "bad guys" because sometimes we seem to be hounding people in our efforts to get answers to serious questions. I don't know how many times over the years I've been accused of badgering seemingly nice people and trying to make them look bad because that's all the media does - create sensational headlines. Isn't that why we do what we do?
But as a newsperson, I have also often been accused of being too nice and being too trusting, and I am. I always look for the good and not the bad. But sometimes you just have to ask the questions. While I am hesitant to judge too quickly, sometimes you have to act.
This week, we were made aware of a situation at Royal Inland Hospital where dirty surgical equipment was an issue for hospital staff. In probing, we find that some people are suggesting this has been a problem for quite some time. Someone has to be held accountable for this issue. Someone has to get to the bottom of it. This is a very dangerous situation. And the news media have been bang on in asking the tough questions. Who knows how long it would have taken to get this story out in the open, or whether serious health repercussions could have occurred, if someone had not tipped us off and we had not followed up.
While the tough questions are not easy, they must sometimes be asked. And while it seems that sometimes we're overly aggressive, and we probably are, still, in dealing with crises like these, the story has to be told. There are times when you have to be a pit bull and bite hard, and hold on until the truth is told. We're still holding on in this one, because at this point, we don't know where the problem is, what caused it, and what solutions will be undertaken to rectify it. I don't think the public would expect anything less, even if we have to ruffle a few feathers, and get under a few peoples' skins to get the answers.
We're not a perfect group, and sometimes we bark up the wrong tree. In this case, I think we've got the right tree, and we're going to keep barking until we get some answers.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Dirty Surgeries at RIH Downright Frightening
(Aired on February 17, 2010)
The story we brought to you this week on dirty surgical tools at Royal Inland Hospital is a tough one to take. It's hard to know what actually constitutes an overreaction to this issue.
If you want to downplay the story, you can say that the surgeons are the last line of defence and they would be able to see if their tools are dirty. You could also say that it's a fairly minor issue being blown out of proportion.
But in talking to members of the public since the story broke, I haven't received that impression. No one thinks this is just a minor issue. The doctor who came forward is a well-respected surgeon at Royal Inland. If he is willing to put himself out there to expose this issue, then it's clearly nothing to sneeze at.
And it raises so many more questions. How prevalent is this problem? How long has it been going on? Who is responsible for the cleaning of the surgical equipment, and will that person be held accountable?
But then you take a step back and look at the broader implications of what's happened. Are these the same tools that are used for emergency surgeries, and if so, are emergency surgeries even safe? What has the rate of post-surgery infection been recently? Someone anonymously sent us an e-mail today, claiming to be a nurse at R.I.H., something we can't verify. This person said that he or she was ordered to carry out H.I.V. tests on patients post-surgery. Did any of these tests come back positive? Our newsroom is following up on all of these questions and many more.
Many people will react to this story and think it's simply disgusting. But it's more than that - it's terrifying. I.H.A. officials say they are making every effort now to ensure that the instruments are clean. It will take a monumental effort, though, to cleanse the hospital's reputation.
The story we brought to you this week on dirty surgical tools at Royal Inland Hospital is a tough one to take. It's hard to know what actually constitutes an overreaction to this issue.
If you want to downplay the story, you can say that the surgeons are the last line of defence and they would be able to see if their tools are dirty. You could also say that it's a fairly minor issue being blown out of proportion.
But in talking to members of the public since the story broke, I haven't received that impression. No one thinks this is just a minor issue. The doctor who came forward is a well-respected surgeon at Royal Inland. If he is willing to put himself out there to expose this issue, then it's clearly nothing to sneeze at.
And it raises so many more questions. How prevalent is this problem? How long has it been going on? Who is responsible for the cleaning of the surgical equipment, and will that person be held accountable?
But then you take a step back and look at the broader implications of what's happened. Are these the same tools that are used for emergency surgeries, and if so, are emergency surgeries even safe? What has the rate of post-surgery infection been recently? Someone anonymously sent us an e-mail today, claiming to be a nurse at R.I.H., something we can't verify. This person said that he or she was ordered to carry out H.I.V. tests on patients post-surgery. Did any of these tests come back positive? Our newsroom is following up on all of these questions and many more.
Many people will react to this story and think it's simply disgusting. But it's more than that - it's terrifying. I.H.A. officials say they are making every effort now to ensure that the instruments are clean. It will take a monumental effort, though, to cleanse the hospital's reputation.
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