Baystate Noble Hospital Notifies Patients of Potential Colonoscopy Risk

WESTFIELD — Baystate Noble Hospital is notifying a group of patients who had colonoscopies at the hospital between June 2012 and April 2013 of potential risks associated with improperly disinfected colonoscopes used in some colonoscopies performed during that time.

In June 2012, Noble Hospital began using new colonoscopes, which required a different approach to disinfection than instruments used previously at Noble. Due to a failure in training, the disinfection of those endoscopes between procedures did not adequately expose the devices’ single water-irrigation channel to high-level disinfection during the last phase of cleaning. This is similar to other, more recent problems with sterilization encountered across the country with endoscopes used for other procedures.

As a result of this lapse, 293 patients who had colonoscopies at Noble between June 2012 and April 2013 have a small risk of having been exposed to blood-borne pathogens during their procedure. The hospital has sent direct notifications to those affected so that they can receive screenings for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, the illnesses that could still be present in patients in the unlikely event that an exposure and infection occurred.

“On behalf of Baystate Noble Hospital and Baystate Health, I apologize to all those affected by this failure in safety,” said Ronald Bryant, president of the hospital. “The safety of our patients is our very highest priority, and we take full responsibility for our part in allowing these patients to have potentially received unsafe care.”

Noble, which became part of Baystate Health in July 2015, has performed an exhaustive examination to identify all patients who are involved in the situation. Anyone affected is being notified directly and offered access to free screening and other support. Patients who don’t receive notifications don’t have cause for concern.

In April 2013, Noble received new equipment and training that enabled it to appropriately disinfect the endoscopes involved. At the time, the hospital team did not recognize the potential risk of harm to patients who had colonoscopies between June 2012 and April 2013. The issue was then considered closed. The potential risks associated with this lapse came to light during a Mass. Department of Public Health visit to the hospital in late December 2015. As soon as hospital leadership became aware of these risks, it took action to address the situation and to inform the patients who are affected.

“We appreciate the partnership of the Department of Public Health in identifying this problem and responding to it,” said Dr. Stanley Strzempko, interim chief medical officer of Baystate Noble Hospital. “We’re working closely with the primary-care providers of those affected to ensure that they receive screening, timely access to results, and any other support we can provide.”

Dr. Sarah Haessler, an infectious-disease physician and Baystate’s head epidemiologist, said the risk of infection from the colonoscopes is quite low. “Due to the function of the water-irrigation channel and the phase of disinfection at which the failure occurred, the risk to patients is very low. However, that risk is not zero, so we’re taking the necessary steps to address these issues and provide patients with the resources they need.”

In 2015, Baystate Health convened a multi-disciplinary team to assess the safety of endoscopes and disinfection processes throughout the organization, in response to widespread national concern about disinfection issues with endoscopes. This team continues its work to ensure that endoscopy equipment and protocols meet the highest standards for safety and quality.