Veterans may have contracted AIDS, hepatitis during dental treatment at St. Louis VA center

[Guest guest]

http://www.bnd.com/2010/06/29/1312483/veterans-may-have-contracted-aids.html

Tuesday, Jun. 29, 2010

Veterans may have contracted AIDS, hepatitis during dental treatment at St.

Louis VA center

BY GEORGE PAWLACZYK

ST. LOUIS -- A flaw in the sterilization of dental equipment at the St. Louis

VA Medical Center exposed 1,812 veterans, including 495 from Illinois, to a " low

risk " of becoming infected with AIDS or hepatitis.

Certified letters were sent Monday to veterans who received dental treatment at

the center between Feb. 1, 2009, and March 11, 2010, encouraging them to go to

the medical center and be tested for HIV or human immunodeficiency virus and

hepatitis B and C virus.

A routine inspection by a " VA internal quality inspection " team in March

revealed that certain equipment was not being sterilized in accordance with

accepted standards, VA spokeswoman Marcena Gunter said Tuesday.

She said it was determined that the improper procedure led to a " slight risk " of

HIV or hepatitis infections.

Asked why it took more than a year from when the improper cleaning techniques

occurred until the warning letters went out, Gunter said that during that time

experts either didn't know it was occurring or were assessing the risk.

" Nothing was being swept under the rug, " she said.

The letters were a shock to at least two veterans from the metro east -- a

64-year-old Granite City resident who is a former member of the 101st Airborne

Division in Vietnam, and a Swansea woman who said she was retired from the Air

Force. Both asked that their names not be used to protect the privacy of their

medical information.

" I was stunned. I was numb, " the woman said. " I just looked at my children. I

couldn't believe it. " She said that rather than risking that the Veterans

Administration would improperly conduct a blood test, she went Tuesday to St.

Hospital in Belleville and had the tests done.

" I talked to this man from the VA and he talked to me like he was telling me how

to change my oil. He was so insensitive, " she said.

The Army veteran said he was treated cavalierly when he called the St. Louis

veterans hospital after receiving a letter.

" He tells me that the VA gives out free condoms. Imagine him telling me that

when this has happened, " he said. " I was shocked. Something like this I don't

need. Nobody needs it. "

In a written statement, RimaAnn , acting medical director of the hospital,

stated that those desiring a blood test, which is free, or having questions can

call 1-888-374-3046. A reporter who called the number Tuesday afternoon did not

reach a person after being on hold for 20 minutes.

The blood tests also will be available at VA clinics in Belleville, 6500 W. Main

St., and in St. , Mo. But Gunter said the preferred location for the

testing is the dental clinic at the Cochran Campus of the medical center in

south St. Louis.

" That's where we will have full staff available to answer detailed questions and

provide counseling, " said Gunter, who added that she was not aware of any

similar occurrence ever happening at the medical center.

, the acting medical director, wrote, " We deeply regret that this

situation occurred and we assure you that we are taking all the necessary steps

to make certain that testing is offered quickly and the results communicated

timely. "

The Veterans Affairs Hospital system has come under fire in recent years for

improper care. The New York Times reported in June 2009 that a " rogue cancer

unit " operated at a veterans hospital in Philadelphia, where 92 of 116 prostate

cancer treatments were botched.

Federal investigators were called in to find out how the cancer unit was allowed

to operate for six years before officials noticed that the treatment was

improper, the newspaper reported.

Contact reporter Pawlaczyk at gpawlaczyk@... or 239-2625.

Read more:

http://www.bnd.com/2010/06/29/1312483/veterans-may-have-contracted-aids.html#ixz\

z0sKwn5tri

Read more:

http://www.bnd.com/2010/06/29/1312483/veterans-may-have-contracted-aids.html#ixz\

z0sKwRf7gu

_________________________________________________________________

Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your

inbox.

http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en\

-US:WM_HMP:042010_2

[Guest guest]

http://www.bnd.com/2010/06/29/1312483/veterans-may-have-contracted-aids.html

Tuesday, Jun. 29, 2010

Veterans may have contracted AIDS, hepatitis during dental treatment at St.

Louis VA center

BY GEORGE PAWLACZYK

ST. LOUIS -- A flaw in the sterilization of dental equipment at the St. Louis

VA Medical Center exposed 1,812 veterans, including 495 from Illinois, to a " low

risk " of becoming infected with AIDS or hepatitis.

Certified letters were sent Monday to veterans who received dental treatment at

the center between Feb. 1, 2009, and March 11, 2010, encouraging them to go to

the medical center and be tested for HIV or human immunodeficiency virus and

hepatitis B and C virus.

A routine inspection by a " VA internal quality inspection " team in March

revealed that certain equipment was not being sterilized in accordance with

accepted standards, VA spokeswoman Marcena Gunter said Tuesday.

She said it was determined that the improper procedure led to a " slight risk " of

HIV or hepatitis infections.

Asked why it took more than a year from when the improper cleaning techniques

occurred until the warning letters went out, Gunter said that during that time

experts either didn't know it was occurring or were assessing the risk.

" Nothing was being swept under the rug, " she said.

The letters were a shock to at least two veterans from the metro east -- a

64-year-old Granite City resident who is a former member of the 101st Airborne

Division in Vietnam, and a Swansea woman who said she was retired from the Air

Force. Both asked that their names not be used to protect the privacy of their

medical information.

" I was stunned. I was numb, " the woman said. " I just looked at my children. I

couldn't believe it. " She said that rather than risking that the Veterans

Administration would improperly conduct a blood test, she went Tuesday to St.

Hospital in Belleville and had the tests done.

" I talked to this man from the VA and he talked to me like he was telling me how

to change my oil. He was so insensitive, " she said.

The Army veteran said he was treated cavalierly when he called the St. Louis

veterans hospital after receiving a letter.

" He tells me that the VA gives out free condoms. Imagine him telling me that

when this has happened, " he said. " I was shocked. Something like this I don't

need. Nobody needs it. "

In a written statement, RimaAnn , acting medical director of the hospital,

stated that those desiring a blood test, which is free, or having questions can

call 1-888-374-3046. A reporter who called the number Tuesday afternoon did not

reach a person after being on hold for 20 minutes.

The blood tests also will be available at VA clinics in Belleville, 6500 W. Main

St., and in St. , Mo. But Gunter said the preferred location for the

testing is the dental clinic at the Cochran Campus of the medical center in

south St. Louis.

" That's where we will have full staff available to answer detailed questions and

provide counseling, " said Gunter, who added that she was not aware of any

similar occurrence ever happening at the medical center.

, the acting medical director, wrote, " We deeply regret that this

situation occurred and we assure you that we are taking all the necessary steps

to make certain that testing is offered quickly and the results communicated

timely. "

The Veterans Affairs Hospital system has come under fire in recent years for

improper care. The New York Times reported in June 2009 that a " rogue cancer

unit " operated at a veterans hospital in Philadelphia, where 92 of 116 prostate

cancer treatments were botched.

Federal investigators were called in to find out how the cancer unit was allowed

to operate for six years before officials noticed that the treatment was

improper, the newspaper reported.

Contact reporter Pawlaczyk at gpawlaczyk@... or 239-2625.

Read more:

http://www.bnd.com/2010/06/29/1312483/veterans-may-have-contracted-aids.html#ixz\

z0sKwn5tri

Read more:

http://www.bnd.com/2010/06/29/1312483/veterans-may-have-contracted-aids.html#ixz\

z0sKwRf7gu

_________________________________________________________________

Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your

inbox.

http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en\

-US:WM_HMP:042010_2