906-341-3200 SMH Notifies Patients of Low Risk Disease Exposure Involving ENT Scopes
October 19, 2019
Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital has notified all Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) patients who received an ENT scope between October 16th, 2017 and February 4th, 2019 out of an abundance of caution.
The scope instruments used during ENT procedures were cleaned but not according to exact manufacturer standards during that time frame. Once detected, cleaning processes were corrected, and a thorough investigation was conducted to examine the level of risk to which patients may have been exposed.
Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital worked with a leading global expert in infectious diseases – a researcher and professor at Vanderbilt University, to advise hospital administrators on how to handle the situation. The expert advised that there are no recorded cases of an ENT scope leading to disease transmission or outbreak.
All affected patients were informed in a mailed letter that there is very small possibility that they may have been exposed to Hepatitis B, C or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during an ENT procedure. Patients have been offered free blood testing at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital laboratory. “Our commitment to patient safety remains our number one priority. We understand this may be distressing and we will assist our patients in every way possible” said Bob Crumb, Chief Executive Officer at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital.
The laboratory will remain open 7 days a week. A toll-free patient information line has been established for questions related to the situation.
It is important to note that this situation does not affect any gastrointestinal scope tests, such as colonoscopies, that took place at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital. It involves only those patients who had an ENT scope procedure during the timeframe listed above.
For more information refer to the FAQ below or please feel free to contact our Patient Safety Department at 906-341-3237.
