JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic is working closely with the Florida Department of Health and in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine which patients should undergo follow-up testing after the Clinic last week discovered that a now, former employee put patients at risk for exposure to hepatitis C.
Mayo Clinic terminated the radiology technologist’s employment after he admitted stealing injectable fentanyl for personal use. His admission came after he was questioned about why his strain of hepatitis C infection was found to be similar to the strain of hepatitis C in three patients who underwent interventional radiology procedures over the last four years. For more details, see Mayo Clinic’s news blog at http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2010/08/24/employee-terminated-after-confessing-to-drug-diversion/.
“We find it heartbreaking that the actions of this single individual may have impacted some of our patients,” said William C. Rupp, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. “We are devoted to meeting patient needs as we respond to this situation. We pride ourselves on offering safe, high-quality patient care. Patients have my firm commitment and the commitment of our entire team that Mayo Clinic will do everything possible to maintain the trust they have placed in us.”
The number of patients who might be affected is still being determined. Mayo Clinic will send letters to these patients and will make hepatitis C testing available at no charge to them. Specific details about testing options for patients who are at risk will be released later this week.
Patients who have questions or may be concerned that they may be at risk of infection can call the toll-free hotline at 877-956-1768 or 904-956-1768. Mayo Clinic nurses staffing the hotline can answer questions or concerns from patients about hepatitis C. Approximately 725 people have called the hotline since it was established last Wednesday.
Further information about hepatitis C is available on the Mayo Clinic website at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-c/DS00097 or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/PDFs/HepCGeneralFactSheet.pdf.
Mayo Clinic will provide additional information about this situation as it becomes available.
This entry was written by Newsletter Editor, posted on August 30, 2010 at 2:55 pm
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