**Shared from our partners at Clark County Public Health in conjunction with PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
NEWS
RELEASE
May
20, 2014
Contacts:
Michelle
Halfhill
Theresa Cross
PeaceHealth
Southwest Medical Center Clark County Public Health
(360)
514-3105 (360) 397-8000, ext. 7378
936 patients advised to be tested
for hepatitis C
VANCOUVER,
Wash. – PeaceHealth Southwest
Medical Center and Clark County Public
Health are
advising 936 patients to be tested for hepatitis C.
A joint
investigation revealed that the patients might have been exposed to the
hepatitis C virus through the actions of a former PeaceHealth Southwest
employee suspected
of diverting drugs for personal use. In certified letters mailed May 19, the patients are urged to
receive hepatitis C testing at the expense of PeaceHealth Southwest.
Temporary
patient service centers have been set up in three locations to make the testing
as convenient as possible. If they choose, patients can be tested by their
healthcare provider at another location. Patients with questions are encouraged
to visit www.peacehealth.org/HepC, send an email to HepC@peacehealth.org or call the patient care support
line at (360) 729-2000 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week.
“We
sincerely apologize for the anxiety this news will cause our patients and their
families,” said Sy Johnson, chief executive officer, PeaceHealth Southwest
Medical Center. “The risk of infection is low, but we are acting with great
caution to ensure the well-being of our patients.”
A news
conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. today at PeaceHealth Southwest in the
Health Education Center Auditorium. For more information or directions, please
contact Michelle Halfhill at (360) 514-3105 or Theresa Cross at (360) 397-8000, ext. 7378. To participate in the
news conference remotely, please dial (360) 729-1900 and use code 4643594#.
PLEASE
RESPECT PATIENT PRIVACY. To comply with patient privacy laws, Clark County Public Health
and PeaceHealth keep all names and other protected patient data confidential.
To protect the privacy of our patients, we ask that you please submit all
requests for patient interviews through Michelle Halfhill at (360)
514-3105. Thank you for your cooperation.
About
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
The region’s health care leader and steward for 155 years, PeaceHealth Southwest is a not-for-profit, 450-bed medical institution located in Vancouver, WA. Repeatedly recognized nationally as a 100 Top Hospital, PeaceHealth Southwest provides a full range of outpatient and inpatient diagnostic, medical and surgical services for Clark County residents. PeaceHealth Southwest is also one of Clark County’s largest employers with 3,400 employees and 600 active medical staff members that help support dozens of medical specialty services and programs, including cancer, heart, emergency, trauma, neuro-musculoskeletal, family birth and primary care services.
The region’s health care leader and steward for 155 years, PeaceHealth Southwest is a not-for-profit, 450-bed medical institution located in Vancouver, WA. Repeatedly recognized nationally as a 100 Top Hospital, PeaceHealth Southwest provides a full range of outpatient and inpatient diagnostic, medical and surgical services for Clark County residents. PeaceHealth Southwest is also one of Clark County’s largest employers with 3,400 employees and 600 active medical staff members that help support dozens of medical specialty services and programs, including cancer, heart, emergency, trauma, neuro-musculoskeletal, family birth and primary care services.
About Clark
County Public Health
Clark
County Public Health protects the community's health by preventing disease and
responding to health threats. We influence conditions that promote health, such
as access to healthy and affordable foods, clean water, health care and
neighborhoods safe for walking and biking. We
minimize the impact of disease outbreaks through vaccination, early detection
and swift response.
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