Investigation: UCHealth hospital didn't properly clean vaginal ultrasound probes

A state health department investigation completed in May found workers at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo., were not properly cleaning vaginal ultrasound probes as well as other surgical instruments and procedure rooms, according to a Denver Post report.

"These failures created the potential for patients to be at risk for healthcare-acquired infections," the state report reads, according to the Denver Post.

However, the hospital maintains no patients were affected, and training procedures have changed. In a statement issued to Becker's, UCHealth said, "While we are not aware of any infections associated with the devices or any patients who have been impacted, Memorial Hospital immediately retrained staff members and put in place new processes to ensure the devices were being properly cleaned."

Memorial Hospital noted that the hospital addressed the health department's concerns in April.

The state investigation was spurred after an ultrasound technician at the hospital filed a complaint with the health department. The technician was fired in September, according to the Denver Post, and she has filed a lawsuit alleging she was fired in retaliation for her complaints.

Memorial Hospital cannot comment on personnel issues or pending litigation, according to the statement.

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