Washington, Oregon Health Group Warns 2,400 Patients of Possible Infection Exposure

Renton, Wash.-based Providence and Portland, Ore.-based Legacy Health are notifying approximately 2,400 patients of a potential exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV due to a physician’s inadequate infection control practices.

Providence leaders recently discovered that an anesthesiologist may have violated infection control protocols during some procedures conducted at hospitals in the Portland, Ore., area.

The physician was employed by Oregon Anesthesiology Group. The individual no longer works for the medical group, which also no longer provides services for Providence.

Providence said patients may be at a “low risk of exposure to possible infections” due to the physician’s actions.

The health system sent letters and MyChart notifications to about 2,200 patients seen at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City, along with two patients treated at Providence Portland Medical Center.

The system is offering all affected individuals a free blood test “out of an abundance of caution.”

Legacy Health has also notified 221 patients who were potentially exposed to infection, according to NBC affiliate KGW.

“Upon learning of this situation, we immediately suspended the provider and launched a comprehensive investigation in accordance with regulations and with our policies and procedures,” the system told the news outlet.

The Oregon Health Authority said it has not received any reports of illness tied to the physician’s practices, which involved the administration of intravenous anesthesia.

In 2018, Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industry notified Legacy Hospitals of more than $5 million in civil penalties for meal and rest period violations.

Specfically, the penalties involved allegations of 5,156 violations at Legacy Meridian Park Hospital, Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center and Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital.

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