WASHINGTON — The Veterans Health Administration is putting patients at risk of hepatitis and HIV by its slow and secretive response to a series of incidents in which medical instruments were improperly sanitized at facilities around the country, irate members of a House committee said Tuesday.
Dr. Robert A. Petzel, undersecretary for health of the Veterans Health Administration, came under sharp criticism for his agency’s lack of strong accountability standards for sterilizing equipment and preventing the spread of disease during his testimony before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., listed a number of cases:
* December 2008, which thousands of veterans in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Miami were put at risk of hepatitis and HIV;
* February 2009, when 1,000 veterans in Augusta, Ga., were notified that improper processing of ear, nose and throat endoscopes meant they, too, were at risk for hepatitis and HIV;
* July 2010, the committee held a hearing after learning of lapses in lceaning dental equipments, putting 1,800 veterans at risk.
“We have been here before,” said Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the committee. “These issues go beyond the incidents themselves.”
Filner also noted that the most recent incident in Dayton, Ohio, involved a variety of problems that put more than 500 veterans at risk.
“Dayton — that was a failure of leadership,” said Petzel. “None of the people [aware of the problems] took needed action.”
Committee members questioned Petzel about whether the VA took too long in notifying patients who may have been exposed to disease through unsterilized equipment.
“You kept the information secret for as long as possible it seems,” said Filner. “You took forever and weren’t personal or clear.”
Petzel said that health care professionals who haven’t followed procedures for sterilization and patient notification have either been disciplined or retired. But committee members argued that allowing individuals to retire or move elsewhere doesn’t hold anyone accountable for mistakes made.
“The VA is expert at talking around issues,” said Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio. “We don’t seem to get specific answer to specific problems.”
Petzel defended the VA’s process for notifying patients of a possible contamination “is industry standard” and thorough. He said that the hospitals are now better at notifying patients in a timely and personal matter.
Committee members told Petzel that they expect to see more accountability for how the VA follows up with patients and more consequences for those leaders who either fail to adequate training