A man and his grandson visiting an unidentified individual at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center-Steamboat Springs (Colo.) said soon after they ate an au jus sandwich served in the hospital's cafeteria, another visitor said they found a used adhesive bandage in the sauce, according to Steamboat Today.
Erik Lacasse told Steamboat Today the incident "was gross, but [he'd] seen worse," according to the report. He said he was more concerned about the health and safety issues the incident posed, especially for younger individuals like his grandson.
Mr. Lacasse said he contacted UCHealth on four separate occasions via phone and email, but failed to hear back from the health system. He claimed at least one week went by before he heard back from hospital officials, who said they had looked into the incident but were not alerted to his concerns, the report states.
Hospital officials reportedly met with Mr. Lacasse Oct. 19, stating they had tested the employee and determined she did not pose any health risks to patients. Officials said the employee had used the bandage to cover a paper cut, according to the report.
Officials said steps have since been taken to ensure a similar incident does not occur in the future.
"Hospital food and nutrition services play an important role in the experience of our patients, their family members and our community," a spokesperson for the hospital told Steamboat Today.
"Safety for everyone is a top priority, and we will continue to ensure the highest quality of our dining services and facilities. … We take concerns such as this very seriously and work diligently to ensure the very best care for patients," the spokesperson added.