Rob Woodward
2018-12-26 05:58:13 UTC
Thousands of people who were treated at an outpatient surgery center
in northern New Jersey are being urged to get their blood tested after
a state investigation found unsanitary conditions at the facility. CBS
New York reports the HealthPlus Surgery Center in Saddle Brook is
alerting 3,778 patients that they may have been exposed to infections.
The warning covers people who had procedures there between January and
Sept. 7, 2018.
In a letter to patients, the center said "during this time period,
lapses in infection control in sterilization/cleaning instruments and
the injection of medications may have exposed patients to bloodborne
pathogens."
A state investigation found staff members were not following proper
procedures. Officials shut down the facility from September 7 through
September 28. It reopened after that.
The surgery center says it has improved its infection control and
medication dispensing procedures, hired new staff and trained them on
sterile processing, and has cleaned and repaired all instruments.
The center says the risk of infection is low, but health officials
still want people to get tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.
"It is important to note that to date, there have not been reports of
any infections or illness related to the investigation. However,
HealthPlus and the New Jersey Department of Health are recommending
that those patients get tested as soon as possible," HealthPlus
Surgery Center Administrator Betty McCabe said in a statement. "We
recognize that this may be upsetting to our patients, and we are
taking this matter very seriously and taking steps to assist them
during this process."
Patients will be able to schedule a blood test at no charge to them,
paid for by HealthPlus.
In New Jersey:
Call 1-888-507-0578 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m.-9 p.m. to
schedule a test.
Testing will take place at the Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus,
New Jersey.
Bring the letter you received from the center with you.
In New York
Testing can be conducted at any LabCorp location. To find a location
near you, click here.
Call 1-888-507-0578 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m.-9 p.m. to
schedule a test.
Bring the letter you received, along with the LabCorp enclosure you
received, and a photo ID.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-jersey-surgery-center-may-have-infected-patients-healthplus-saddle-brook/
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ***@netfront.net ---
in northern New Jersey are being urged to get their blood tested after
a state investigation found unsanitary conditions at the facility. CBS
New York reports the HealthPlus Surgery Center in Saddle Brook is
alerting 3,778 patients that they may have been exposed to infections.
The warning covers people who had procedures there between January and
Sept. 7, 2018.
In a letter to patients, the center said "during this time period,
lapses in infection control in sterilization/cleaning instruments and
the injection of medications may have exposed patients to bloodborne
pathogens."
A state investigation found staff members were not following proper
procedures. Officials shut down the facility from September 7 through
September 28. It reopened after that.
The surgery center says it has improved its infection control and
medication dispensing procedures, hired new staff and trained them on
sterile processing, and has cleaned and repaired all instruments.
The center says the risk of infection is low, but health officials
still want people to get tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.
"It is important to note that to date, there have not been reports of
any infections or illness related to the investigation. However,
HealthPlus and the New Jersey Department of Health are recommending
that those patients get tested as soon as possible," HealthPlus
Surgery Center Administrator Betty McCabe said in a statement. "We
recognize that this may be upsetting to our patients, and we are
taking this matter very seriously and taking steps to assist them
during this process."
Patients will be able to schedule a blood test at no charge to them,
paid for by HealthPlus.
In New Jersey:
Call 1-888-507-0578 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m.-9 p.m. to
schedule a test.
Testing will take place at the Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus,
New Jersey.
Bring the letter you received from the center with you.
In New York
Testing can be conducted at any LabCorp location. To find a location
near you, click here.
Call 1-888-507-0578 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m.-9 p.m. to
schedule a test.
Bring the letter you received, along with the LabCorp enclosure you
received, and a photo ID.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-jersey-surgery-center-may-have-infected-patients-healthplus-saddle-brook/
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ***@netfront.net ---