I thought we should ask the difficult question of whether Mayo Clinic has other investigations currently underway related to the allegations at its Florida campus involving a solitary radiologic technologist who, clinic officials say, took drugs intended for patients, injected himself and then filled the same syringes with saline solution and injected that saline solution into patient IV lines, thus, allegedly, exposing at least three patients to hepatitis C.
Mayo spokesman Karl Oestreich in Rochester responded, saying, "this incident is an isolated event which involves a single individual. We find this incident heartbreaking and Mayo Clinic will do everything possible to maintain the trust that patients have placed in us. There are not any similar investigations at our other sites."
The outcome of Mayo's investigation has been a blow to the clinic.
One person wrote on the clinic's news blog, asking why patients weren't informed that health system-acquired hepatitis C infections had been found, saying, "as a Mayo transplant patient who has received services in (Interventional Radiology), I am sickened that the Mayo administration knew there was a problem for more than 2 years and nothing was said. I really have to wonder about the care and compassion of Mayo administration."
But most recognize the extraordinary effort it takes to uncover such a slight-of-hand, at least in the absence of constant video surveillance and monitoring of employees, or repeated drug screening for anyone who might pose a threat to patient safety.
Another poster on Mayo's news blog wrote, "thank you Mayo for being diligent in researching the cause of the source of Hepatitis C. Because of this, Mayo patients should feel more confident about their safety and security at Mayo. It is so very sad, though, that people have suffered because of one individual’s drug addiction. I do hope that Mayo will institute random drug testing for all employees directly involved with patient medications. As a Mayo patient and employee, I am thankful that this has been investigated thoroughly. Thank you."
A third named the accused on Mayo's blog, a link to which was sent out via a press statement (I note that he remains innocent until proven guilty, although the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has said it received a confession).
That woman focused on empathy for those affected at Mayo in Jacksonville: "This is such a tragic situation. I feel awful for the innocent patients whose lives have been destroyed by this man. He has not only created victims out of these patients, but his co-workers as well. Please have compassion for the others that are still employed at The Mayo Clinic, specifically those employed in Interventional Radiology; The employees that remain at The Mayo Clinic Of Jacksonville, Florida are some of the most educated, determined and kindhearted people of the healthcare field. Understand that this horrible circumstance has been created by one employee, and one employee only, Steven Beumel. I will be praying for all of those who are going thru this tough time."
Mayo Jacksonville spokesman Kevin Punsky also sent an update, saying 725 people had called the hepatitis hotline by Monday afternoon (August 30, 2010) that Mayo set up.
"Mayo Clinic will send letters to these patients and will make hepatitis C testing available at no charge to them. Specific details about testing options for patients who are at risk will be released later this week," Punsky wrote.
I again extend my sympathy to affected patients, their loved ones and Mayo staff (and their loved one) who must deal with the aftereffects, and who daily uphold their professional codes.
Concerned you might be affected? Call 1-877-956-1768.
Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel
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