2,400 patients may have been exposed to Hepatitis, HIV after Oregon doctor disregarded safety protocols

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Legacy Health and Providence announced in separate statements on Thursday that thousands of patients may have been exposed to diseases, after a doctor disregarded infection control procedure.

Legacy Health said they were in the process of sending letters to 221 patients notifying them of the breach.

“The safety of our patients is our highest priority. We are in the process of sending letters notifying 221 patients who may have been impacted,” wrote Legacy Health in a statement. “Upon learning of this situation, we immediately suspended the provider and launched a comprehensive investigation in accordance with regulations and with our policies and procedures. Our community should know that this was an isolated situation involving a single provider, contracted with the Oregon Anesthesiology Group to provide care at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center for approximately six months beginning in December of 2023.”

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Providence said that about 2,200 patients treated at Portland-area hospitals, including Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, Providence Portland Medical Center and other non-Providence hospitals may have been exposed.

Providence stated that the doctor was employed by Oregon Anesthesiology Group (OAG), which no longer provides services for Providence. The physician is also no longer employed by OAG.

“The actions of this physician might have put patients at a low risk of exposure to possible infections, including hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),” said Providence in a statement. “We are notifying approximately 2,200 patients seen at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and 2 patients seen at Providence Portland Medical Center. These patients are receiving a mailed letter and/or a MyChart notification”

Out of an abundance of caution, Providence is encouraging these patients to get a blood test to screen for the aforementioned exposures, at no cost. If a patient tests positive, Providence will reach out to discuss their test results and next steps.

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OAG released the following statement Thursday:

“The safety of our patients is our top priority. When we learned that the physician had violated infection control practices, we suspended him, informed our partners Legacy Health and Providence, and then began an investigation that resulted in the physician’s termination. Even though the risk of infection was low, new protocols and procedures have been put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

The Fox 12 Investigates team wants to hear from you. If you or someone in your family has been notified of a potential infectious disease exposure, please let us know. You can contact us, here.

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