Surgical Center Reopens

By Ashley Andyshak, The Frederick News-Post, Md.

Jun. 25–The Frederick Surgical Center has reopened following two evacuations in as many weeks.

After the second evacuation of the building at 915 Toll House Road on June 17, the surgery center closed for two days for a round of tests to determine what had sickened eight people. Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and private companies tested for toxins in the air, mold, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and inspected the facility’s machines, gas lines and HVAC system.

All tests resulted in a clean bill of health, and inspectors still aren’t sure what caused the reported headaches and nausea. Patients scheduled for surgery Thursday and Friday were rescheduled or directed to other facilities, and the center reopened on its regular schedule Monday.

The first evacuation of the building occurred June 12 when rinse water from a machine containing glutaraldehyde, a chemical used to disinfect and clean medical equipment, leaked from Dr. James Frizzell’s office on the second floor of the building into a surgical center suite on the first floor. Eight surgical center employees were taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital for evaluation, and no one was in surgery when the incident occurred.

Frizzell’s office manager, Janet Frizzell, said the machine was scheduled to be repaired Tuesday, and that none of Frizzell’s staff or patients reported feeling ill before or after either evacuation. Frizzell’s office remained open during the testing at the surgical center.

Five days later, the building was evacuated again after eight people reported headaches and nausea. Those affected were evaluated on the scene but no one was taken elsewhere for treatment.

Four patients were in surgery when the second evacuation occurred, and were moved to tents in the parking lot. Frederick County fire and rescue personnel and officials from the Maryland Department of the Environment responded but did not detect anything abnormal. County fire marshal Mike Dmuchowski said the two incidents are unrelated.

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