Lawmakers seek investigation of all VA facilities in Ohio

April 19, 2011

http://www.dentistryiq.com/index/display/news-display/1395490669.html

By Ben Sutherly Staff Writer

Dayton Daily News (Ohio)

April 8, 2011

DAYTON - Lawmakers on Thursday pressed Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki

to form a regional task force to investigate issues surrounding misconduct at

the Dayton VA Medical Center as part of a statewide review of VA operations.

" We must determine how, for more than 18 years, the VA allowed patient care to

erode to the point where hundreds of patients at Dayton had to be tested for

hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV because they were exposed to blood-borne

pathogens as a result of their care " in the VA's dental clinic, U.S. Sen.

Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Mike , R-Centerville, wrote in a

letter.

Between January 1992 and July 2010, a dentist, Dwight M. Pemberton, failed to

change gloves and failed to sterilize instruments between patients, potentially

putting at least 535 patients at risk for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, VA

officials said. Pemberton has since retired.

" Those who enabled this to happen must be held accountable, " Brown and 's

letter stated. " We must also identify the source of this problem and ensure that

a similar working environment has not taken root at any other VA medical

facility. "

Brown and called for a task force after the Dayton Daily News this week

reported two patients had tested newly positive for hepatitis B. Further testing

is under way to determine if the source of those infections was the dental

clinic, though that may never be known.

In February, Brown, and Sen. Rob Port-man, R-Ohio, requested a review of

all VA medical facility oversight policies and procedures.

The new task force, as proposed, would review all VA facilities in Ohio.

Kulik, Brown's press secretary, said elected officials want a regional task

force to examine the " culture of care at other facilities " to make sure Dayton's

problems aren't endemic elsewhere. The latest requested review also would

include input from stakeholders outside the VA, including veterans, she said.

" We need to look at the broader issues that are systemic inside of that network "

in Ohio, said Crossen, 's press secretary.

The VA operates medical centers in Columbus, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Dayton and

Cleveland. It also operates outpatient clinics throughout the state.

VA officials couldn't be reached for immediate comment Thursday, but have said

the VA is taking steps nationwide to ensure problems in Dayton aren't repeated

elsewhere. For example, one of the VA's own inspection controls - Systemwide

Ongoing Assessment and Review Strategy - added a dental component. The VA last

month reassigned the Dayton VA's director, Guy , to a regional

headquarters job in Cincinnati, in what it described as a lateral move.

and Brown have called for House and Senate hearings on the dental

clinic's problems, respectively, though hearings have not yet been scheduled.

Lawmakers also have asked the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association to

independently review the VA investigation and suggest ways to improve dental

clinic care.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7457 or bsutherlyDaytonDailyNews (DOT) com.

Dayton Daily News (Ohio)

April 19, 2011