As Seen on South Florida Live
Broward General Medical Center Victims
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Some of the patients who received re-used IV bags through a Broward General Medical Center nurse's blunder tested positive for infectious diseases, the hospital said yesterday. Nurse Qui Lan put over 1,800 patients at risk when she reused the bags while administering saline solution to patients at the hospital for cardiac chemical stress tests.
The hospital said yesterday they aren't sure if those infected got the disease from the IV bags or if they were already infected.
"Based on the current Broward County disease prevalence data, we expect some of the screening results to be positive for infection exposure and we will need to conduct an individual evaluation to help determine the origin," Dr. David Droller, head of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases at Broward, said in a statement. "At this time, we will make certain the individual receives appropriate care and follow-up."
The hospital has offered to test anyone who received the stress tests, and so far has gotten back preliminary results from 254 people who were tested.
The tests are screening for HIV/AIDs and Hepatitis B and C .
According to officials, nurse Qui Lan used the same IV bag on different patients on multiple occasions when proper protocol at the hospital is to switch out the IV bags for new ones on each new patient. Lan, a seven-year veteran, had handled IVs during the stress tests since 2004. Lan was suspended and later resigned. She has since left the country.
Hospital officials are concerned that fluids from one patient seeped back into the bag and then transferred to another patient that used the same bag.
Lan apparently switched out the IV needle and a portion of the plastic tubing that connects the needle to the solution bag. But in some cases, the nurse would not change the bag containing the saline solution. Officials call the chances of blood backflow into the bag "low."
Broward General sent letters to thousands of patients to notify them of the problem, and yesterday confirmed that 533 patients had received the letter.
The hospital is notifying patients of the results of the preliminary screenings. Though the screenings aren't mandatory, the hospital is encouraging all patients who received the letter to be tested.
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1212 Southeast 3rd AvenueFort Lauderdale, FL 33316 Phone: 954.467.8800
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Broward General Medical Center Letter To Patients:
View Original Letter
October 5, 2009
We are sending this letter because you had a cardiac chemical (pharmacological) stress test at Broward
General Medical Center, 1600 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL, between January 2004 and early
September 2009. During this test, a nurse caring for you may have inappropriately re-used medical supplies.
Although we do not know whether this action has caused any illness, it is possible that this action may have
exposed you to infections. As a precaution, we are asking that patients get tested for hepatitis C virus,
hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
All of us at Broward General Medical Center understand that this is alarming and may be frightening. We
want to assure you that we will assist you in every way possible, including paying for you to receive
necessary tests. We recommend that you get tested, as there are treatment options available if you do test
positive for one of the above infections.
Broward General Medical Center understands that this is an unacceptable practice that once discovered was
immediately corrected. We are working with public health authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
We have no reason to suspect that patients who had chemical stress tests before January 2004 are at risk. The
concern lies only in patients treated during this time by one particular nurse.
We have made arrangements with LabCorp, an independent network of clinical laboratories, to provide free
blood testing for you. Broward General Medical Center will be responsible for the cost. Enclosed is a form
for the testing. Please take this form to a LabCorp Patient Service Center location convenient to you. Fasting
before the test is not necessary, and LabCorp recommends arriving after 11 a.m. for the tests. We have
enclosed a list of local LabCorp centers, and a complete listing of LabCorp locations is available by visiting
www.labcorp.com.
Additionally, if you received a chemical stress test after March 1, 2009, you will need to be tested now and
will require a repeat test six months after the date of your procedure.
The physician specified on your Broward General Medical Center medical record for this procedure will also
receive a letter of explanation including which tests are required.
We realize that you turn to Broward General Medical Center to get better. This event is unacceptable to us
as well, and we are trying to be as proactive as possible to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please call the dedicated, 24-hour hotline at 800-545-5716
Sincerely,
James G. Thaw
CEO
Broward General Medical Center