Veterans Call For VA Medical Center To Shut Down In St. Louis
Officials Want John Cochran VA Medical Center Closed Completely
Officials Want John Cochran VA Medical Center Closed Completely
St. Louis, MO (KTVI-FOX2Now.com) —
The head of a National Veterans Organization is calling for the John Cochran VA Medical Center to be shut down completely. The surgery center at the troubled VA Hospital was closed this week over contamination fears. This is just the latest problem at Cochran.Almost two thousand vets may have been exposed to HIV or Hepatitis last year at the hospital's dental clinic. Now with the possibility that surgical instruments at Cochran may not have been properly sterilized. Vets who have had recent surgeries are worried and veteran's groups are outraged.In addition, both Congressman Russ Carnahan, a member of the House Veteran's Committee and the Paralyzed Veterans Of America are both blasting Cochran. Meanwhile the hospital says it's surgical center could re-open next week.
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VA halts surgeries at St. Louis hospital
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Feb 3
ST. LOUIS (AP) - The VA Medical Center in St. Louis has halted surgeries after a regular inspection showed possible contamination of equipment.
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The hospital's medical director, RimaAnn O. Nelson, said spots were noticed on surgical trays and water stains on at least one surgical instrument before any surgeries were performed Wednesday. She said hospital officials have since inspected all other surgical materials and had vendors at the center Thursday inspecting and testing all surgery-related equipment.
Nelson did not say how many patients might be affected or when surgeries might resume.
The episode is the latest case of sterilization problems at the John Cochran VA Medical Center. The U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs held hearings on the situation at the St. Louis center in July.
Nelson did not say how many patients might be affected or when surgeries might resume.
The episode is the latest case of sterilization problems at the John Cochran VA Medical Center. The U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs held hearings on the situation at the St. Louis center in July.
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Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
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Nelson said hospital officials on Friday continued to inspect and test the surgical unit's processes and equipment, canceling 35 non-emergency or elective surgical procedures. As of Friday afternoon, nine patients were to have their surgical procedures performed at local community hospitals at the VA medical center's expense...
The St. Louis surgical shutdown is just the latest for the VA regionally. The VA medical center in southern Illinois' Marion has been under intense scrutiny since August 2007, when a surgeon resigned three days after a patient bled to death following gallbladder surgery. All inpatient surgeries were suspended there within a month, and the site's director, chief of staff, surgical chief and anesthesiologist were moved to other positions, placed on leave or quit...
Interesting stuff. I had some surgical procedures done due to some fire damage I sustained in Honolulu, but I didn't have to worry about HIV or Hepatitis.
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