Focus: Plumbing

Sewage leaks in operating rooms still an issue at D.C. hospital for VIPs

A black, grainy foul-smelling substance coated the floor of an operating room


Sewage leaks in operating rooms still plague MedStar Washington Hospital Center, D.C., a hospital for VIPs, according to an article on the USA Today website.

A black, grainy foul-smelling substance coated the floor of an operating room, which also suffered from at least one "active leak" of sewage, according to a review by the District of Columbia health department last August.

That health department report was cited in a lawsuit filed against the hospital by the husband of a woman who died from a post-operative infection after surgery at the hospital, where the operating rooms had suffered from leaks of bacteria-filled sewage for months, the article said.

Staff and contractors the hospital identified as being responsible for cleanup told investigators they were not made aware of a leak in an operating room where several patients were operated on last July, according to the health department report reviewed by USA TODAY. The sewage leaks were known as "black water" leaks, employees told the inspectors. 

Read the article.

 

 



April 11, 2018


Topic Area: Maintenance and Operations


Recent Posts

How Backup Power Needs Vary Across Healthcare Settings

Manufacturers discuss how evolving codes, technologies and care settings shape healthcare backup power strategies.


Flexible Design Strategies Help OhioHealth Maximize Clinical Space

Doing more with less was key to the renovated facility’s design.


New Bass Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases Opens

The new space not only offers more exam rooms but also features 15 private infusion bays to allow privacy for all patients and their caregivers during treatment.


Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Daytona Beach Opens

Hospital amenities include all private patient rooms, a spacious therapy gym featuring advanced rehabilitation technologies, an activities of daily living suite and more.


What Healthcare Facilities Can Learn from a $49 Million Window Failure

A major window system failure at the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital sparked a costly replacement project – and a $49.4 million arbitration win.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.