Video - Mold found in NCH emergency room

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Mold found in NCH emergency room

10/19/2007

WBBH - Fort Myers,FL*

by Marisa Brahney

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=15291 & z=3 & p=

COLLIER COUNTY: It's a moldy mess at Naples Community Hospital's

north campus, where crews discovered mold while working on a

construction project.

There is a lot of concern with the discovery. Workers found the mold

in the ER of the North Collier campus on Immokalee Road. They were

renovating a waiting room when they spotted it.

Friday, NBC2 found the hospital is cleaning it all up and keeping

patients from being exposed.

Gail Dolan, NCH Chief Operating Officer, says they have cordoned off

the entire room, sealing it so none of the air particles will escape

and make patients sick.

Dolan says the mold was in a small area of the emergency room, but

the hospital will be thoroughly checking the surrounding areas.

" We do not have any of those issues elsewhere in the emergency

department. Before we re-open this area, we will check to make sure

the air quality is what it's supposed to be, " said Dolan.

The hospital will also disinfect the area before re-opening it to

patients.

NCH has had mold problems before, but Dolan says it's never been

this bad.

" Everybody has mold problems here in Southwest Florida. But in a

hospital organization, you must correct those problems by testing

your air quality, " said Dolan.

Dolan says the area should be re-opened by late next week after all

of that precautionary work is finished.

We also asked if any employees had complained of sickness that may

have been caused by the mold. But Dolan says there have not been any

complaints from either staff or patients.