HCA North Florida Hospital says it has 'procured new instruments,' expanded staff
HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, which had suspended surgeries on Jan. 17 over concerns about its processes to sterilize surgical instruments, is now scheduling 75% of all elective surgical cases.
Hospital communications direction Lauren Lettelier wrote in a press release that the hospital hopes to resume 100% of elective surgeries as soon as possible.
“HCA Florida North Florida Hospital continues to care for patients in all areas of the hospital and has resumed all surgical operations, including elective surgeries and continuing to treat emergent and high-acuity cases," the statement said.
When asked by The Sun in an email what practices or procedures have changed at the hospital to give patients confidence in the care that they receive, Lettelier wrote that "the hospital has installed additional pre-surgical processing units, procured new instruments, and expanded our Surgical Services staff."
The hospital at 6500 Newberry Road in Gainesville had initially suspended all non-emergency surgeries for at least four days on Jan. 17 due to an "equipment-related issue that impacted presurgical processes." The suspension, however, had continued for weeks.
According to a story from Fresh Take Florida, surgeons and other medical staff reported finding instruments in operating rooms with blood and tissue on them. In one instance, an operation was called off with the patient still on the surgical bed after it was discovered that three different trays of equipment had been compromised.
In a message to The Sun, one woman wrote that her husband had "major neurosurgery" in January and called it "concerning" that he could have "foreign body (bone or tissue from a previous patient) lurking around ..."
Trucks from Steris Corporation, a company that specializes in sterilization and surgical programs, could be seen outside the hospital earlier this month. At least one could still be seen Thursday near the entrance to the hospital's emergency room.
Lettelier wrote to The Sun that physicians are now rescheduling elective surgeries based on the needs of their patients.
Lettelier declined to comment on a report that Patty Gusky, the hospital's vice president of surgical operations, had been removed from her position. There are currently no references to Gusky or the position on the hospital's website.
Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration is expected to release its preliminary report on the matter in the coming weeks.
"As always, we look forward to reviewing assessments by AHCA or any other regulatory agency," Lettelier wrote
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: HCA North Florida Hospital surgeries now at 75 percent in Gainesville
