Providence Santa Rosa (Calif.) Memorial Hospital has been diverting surgical patients to other medical facilities in the region following concerns regarding the water used in sterilizing its surgical instruments, according to an Oct. 20 report from The Press Democrat.
Providence has also been sending its equipment to sister facilities, including the Santa Rosa ASC, to sterilize for use in urgent cases.
On Oct. 17, the system discovered water treatment concerns with two machines used in its sterile processing department. When the issue was discovered, the system halted equipment use and notified internal and external agencies. Internal and third-party vendor testing found that equipment is now functioning properly and meeting safety standards, but the system is waiting to restart elective procedures.
While elective surgeries were postponed, trauma-related and urgent procedures continued. Providence Santa Rosa Memorial did not see an interruption in procedures including colonoscopies and endoscopies, or those performed at the cardiac catheterization lab or outpatient surgery center across the street from the trauma center.
Over the past few weeks, the hospital has not seen any increase in post-operation infections, according to the report.
Providence Santa Rosa Memorial is part of Renton, Wash.-based Providence.