State probes dialysis centerSeptember 1, 2009
By DAN MORAN DMORAN@SCN1.COM
LIBERTYVILLE -- A state inspection of a Milwaukee Avenue dialysis center this summer reportedly discovered "deficient conditions," including such things as employees failing to wash hands before and after handling equipment.
Warren Township Supervisor Suzanne Simpson, who issued a press release Monday calling attention to the situation, said constituent complaints prompted her and officials with the Lake County Health Department to request an inspection of Lake County Dialysis Center by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
"(We're) trying to alert the public about a severe health concern that isn't being talked about," Simpson said of sanitary conditions at outpatient clinics and hospitals. "Sometimes, the best cleanliness practices are not being followed."
Illinois public health spokeswoman Melanie Arnold said Monday that inspectors toured the facility on June 24 and reported deficiencies that she described as "nothing major ... nothing that we would shut them down for."
"They submitted a plan of corrections, and we found it acceptable," said Arnold, adding that follow-up inspections are typically conducted in such cases.
In a "statement of deficiencies" dated July 7, the inspectors reported that employees at Lake County Dialysis -- also known as Total Renal Care -- did not meet standards for washing hands or wearing gloves while performing such tasks as handling dialysis equipment or dealing with patients.
Other deficiencies cited include patient care technicians leaving a treatment area without washing hands as required; a lack of a hand-washing station in an area that requires one; and a technician performing treatments without required training.
Brad Chase, a spokesman for DaVita, the Colorado-based company that owns Lake County Dialysis, said the facility is "heavily regulated" by both state and federal agencies, and any deficiencies found are quickly remedied.
"DaVita has consistently demonstrated clinical outcomes that are among the best or are the best in virtually every category when compared to national averages," Chase said in a statement. "Our commitment to providing patients with the highest quality care is paramount -- we will only provide service in an environment that meets our stringent standards of excellence."
Chase added that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently rated the Libertyville facility as one of only 22 dialysis clinics out of 184 in Illinois "to place in the top category for patient survival rates -- a metric that truly demonstrates the facility's superior quality of care."
Libertyville
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1745800,5_1_WA01_CLINIC_S1-090901.article
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Author
