Colorado VA Hospital closed to weakly immune cuz of aspergillus bacteria. Huh?

[Guest guest]

" She says it does not pose any health threat to patients who don't have

immune deficiencies or to the staff. "

Define " immune deficiencies " . Why are people in the hospital in the first

place if the are not sick or injured? Don't illness and injury compromise the

immune system causing, even if just temporarily, deficiencies?

VA hospital closed to certain patients

9NEWS.com - Denver,CO

written by: Cheryl Preheim , 9NEWS Reporter

_http://www.9news.http://wwhttp://www.9nhttp://www.9n_

(http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=65931)

DENVER – Colorado veterans who have weak immune systems cannot be

treated at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center because there is

bacterium in the building.

Now, the family of one of the veterans who was affected by the

problem wants the government to make sure veterans get the care they

deserve.

Steve Montague's father, Don, was one of the veterans who went to

the VA Hospital for care last year.

His family was surprised to find out he couldn't be admitted to the

hospital to be treated for his Leukemia.

" Patients who have compromised immune systems cannot stay at the VA

hospital they have to be shipped to another city or they have to be

referred to another practice, " said Montague.

The hospital spokesperson, White, says there is a mold

spore in the building called aspergillus.

" We don't state that aspergillus is a direct relationship with

cleanliness, it is found in the environment, it is a fungus and it's

a challenge because it is in the environment,a challenge beca

The hospital has been taking steps to deal with the fungus since it

was discovered in 2001, when some patients became ill from the mold

spore. It says the aspergillus is likely coming from a dirt sub-

basement floor.

" We are working diligently on it but it's a problem that we knew

wasn't going to be a next-day fix, " said White.

She says it does not pose any health threat to patients who don't

have immune deficiencies or to the staff.

" It's just a sign of how bad the system is broken, " said Montague.

His father was referred to a private hospital in Denver, but

Montague says the differences between the VA hospital and the

private facility was vast.

" In general there is absolutely no comparison, " he said. " I think we

should be able to support the troops, support the people that serve

our country with at least as good of care as you get in private

practice. "

Montague says he understands the Veterans Affairs hospitals are

understaffed and have had their budgets cut by the federal

government.

" It is immoral that we send men and women into combat and then we

don't take care of them properly when they come home, " he said.

The VA hospital won't talk about its budget specifically, but only

says the federal government determines it.

" Whatever funding we are provided we will utilize it to our fullest

to provide excellent quality health care, " said White.

The hospital was built in 1950.

" We are in a 57-year-old building so we certainly have day to day

challenges, " said White. " We strive to provide the best of the best

to our veterans. "

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[Guest guest]

Sharon,

I agree. The CDC mentions more time than not that just stress alone

will compromise your immune system. I guess that would make

everybody susceptible to these conditions or exposure and the

effects of mycotoxins. That would mean every politican in Washington

is susceptible due to stress.

I've still been waiting to see on the news about the VA hospital in

Amarillo that I posted last week, but not a word and those people

are sick.

KC

Mold allegations at the VA hospital

The Veterans' Hospital in Amarillo

By Davila

Posted: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 8:05 AM

http://www.kvii.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=28702

KVII 7 Amarillo Wed, 28 Feb 2007 3:28 PM PST

>

> " She says it does not pose any health threat to patients who don't

have

> immune deficiencies or to the staff. "

>

> Define " immune deficiencies " . Why are people in the hospital in

the first

> place if the are not sick or injured? Don't illness and injury

compromise the

> immune system causing, even if just temporarily, deficiencies?

>

>

>

>

>

>

> VA hospital closed to certain patients

> 9NEWS.com - Denver,CO

> written by: Cheryl Preheim , 9NEWS Reporter

>

> _http://www.9news.http://wwhttp://www.9nhttp://www.9n_

> (http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=65931)

>