Mold found at VA affected employees, not patients

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Mold found at VA affected employees, not patients

THE SOUTHERN,Carbondale,IL,*

BY JOHN D. HOMAN

Thursday, January 3, 2008

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2008/01/04/front_page/2281

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MARION - The VA Medical Center in n is now coping with moldy

buildings.

Some employees claim they were exposed to mold toxic enough to cause

eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as headaches. No patients

were affected.

The problem areas centered on two new modular buildings built less

than two years ago, which mainly house administrative and clerical

personnel, and Building 13, which houses administrative, engineering

and safety staff.

The VA's position is that the problem was identified and addressed

immediately to ensure the health and well being of employees. Two of

those employees did not want their names published in this article

for fear of repercussions by their employer.

This cleanup process is the latest problem encountered by the

medical facility, which came under fire last fall for a noticeable

spike in patient deaths that has led to multiple investigations of

the hospital's surgical unit. One surgeon resigned and has since

lost his Illinois medical license and three others are working on

restricted status. There have also been employee complaints about

violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, sexual harassment

and age and gender discrimination.

" The abatement process for removal of the mold was finished two to

three months ago on one of our modular buildings, " said hospital

spokeswoman Shinneman. " The abatement process is conducted

by an environmental company which specializes in mold removal. When

mold has been identified in a work area, employees are moved to

another work area and the area is contained. "

Shinneman said the abatement process entails removing wallpaper and

drywall, cleaning the walls with a solution to kill the mold,

applying a solution to prevent future growth and then rebuilding the

area with new products.

" Air quality samples are taken before the abatement and after to

check for mold, " Shinneman said. " Our facility conducts ongoing

inspections for environment of care. "

Ditterline, environmental manager at the n facility, said

he thoroughly checked each of the 20-plus buildings on campus for

mold when employees began to complain of discomfort early last

summer and found areas of concern in both the modular buildings and

Building 13.

Ditterline said Resun Leasing, Inc. in Euless, Texas, which

specializes in modular buildings, did perform mold abatement when

contacted that there was a problem. He added that he would prefer

buildings to be constructed on a concrete base rather than a

concrete pier foundation because it helps prevent mold from

spreading.

" The company could have done a better job with those buildings, " he

said.

Ditterline said the main problem area that remains to be cleaned is

in the basement of Building 13. Employees are warned to wear

respirator masks if they must retrieve a medical file from the area

until the area is abated. No employees work in the basement.

Ditterline said any employees with respiratory difficulties or who

are ultrasensitive to even the lowest level of mold conditions have

been awarded high-efficiency particulate air filters near their work

space to ensure comfort.

Ditterline confirmed that one employee did go into anaphylactic

shock, but it is believed her reaction was due to the presence of

vinyl products and not mold.

john.homan@... / 351-5805