PORTLAND, Ore. — About 2,400 of patients at both Providence and Legacy Health facilities in the Portland area are being notified of an "infection control breach" related to a third-party anesthesiologist, which may have exposed them to infectious diseases.
In a statement, Legacy Health said it was sending letters to 221 patients who may have been impacted.
Legacy said that the exposure came from a single provider contracted through the Oregon Anesthesiology Group who was providing care at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center for a period of six months, beginning in December 2023.
"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 hospital group said.
In a separate statement, Providence said that about 2,200 patients at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and two patients at Providence Portland Medical Center were being notified of a similar breach. The hospital system confirmed that the exposure was also related to a single physician employed by the Oregon Anesthesiology Group.
That physician, Providence said, no longer works for the anesthesiology group, and the hospital system no longer contracts with the group. In November 2023, Providence switched providers from the Oregon Anesthesiology Group to Sound Physicians, which at the time contributed to hundreds of delayed surgeries.
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According to Providence, their patients were put "at a low risk of exposure" to infectious diseases, including hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients were being notified through a mailed letter and MyChart notifications.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we are encouraging these patients to get a blood test to screen for the aforementioned infections, at no cost. If a patient tests positive, Providence will reach out to discuss their test results and next steps," Providence said. "Patient safety is our number one priority, and our patients have our full commitment to a thorough review of this issue and appropriate action. "
Both hospital systems declined to make any further comment on the infection control breach, and did not elaborate on the circumstances.
A spokesperson for Oregon Anesthesiology Group also declined any interviews, but issued a brief statement:
“The safety of our patients is our top priority. When we learned that the physician had violated infection control practices, we suspended him, informed our partners Legacy Health and Providence, and then began an investigation that resulted in the physician’s termination. Even though the risk of infection was low, new protocols and procedures have been put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
The Oregon Health Authority released a statement about the breach, adding that the agency is not currently aware of any reports of illness related to it. They also clarified that investigations into the breach centered around a physician who delivered intravenous anesthesia and employed "unacceptable infection control practices, which put patients at risk of infections."
"While news of this infection control breach at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center and Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center may be distressing for some people, it’s important to know that Oregon’s health care providers employ highly qualified and skilled infection preventionists and laboratory staff who lead the charge to prevent (health care-associated infections)," OHA said. "In addition, local, state and federal public health agencies work closely with health care settings to implement effective infection control practices and equip health care providers with the tools that keep patients, visitors and the public safe."