Unclear Roles Between Hospital, Health Authority Led to Troubles at Alta Facility

CALGARY (CP) – A report says uncertainty over who had ultimate control over procedures led to infection problems at an Alberta hospital.

A review released by the Health Quality Council of Alberta says there was lack of agreement between St. Joseph’s Hospital in Vegreville and the East-Central Health Region over who had “final authority.”

The report also says there was a strained working relationship between the two, which meant that no one ensured surgical instruments were being properly sterilized.

St. Joseph’s was closed to new patients for several weeks in March after an outbreak of a drug-resistant bacteria and over concerns over improperly sterilized surgical equipment.

Thousands of patients from the hospital and another health clinic in Lloydminister had to be tested to make sure they had not been infected with HIV or hepatitis.

It’s expected the government will announce it plans to take over the control of standards and monitoring at all hospitals and clinics across the province.