Focus: Infection Control

VA finds officials covered up Legionella at Loma Linda hospital

Staff members said they were not informed of bacteria discovery


A federal report has concluded that the Department of Veterans Affairs officials failed to notify physicians in 2017 about Legionella bacteria found at the VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, according to an article on The Sun website.  

The VA report supports a whistleblower complaint filed in February 2018 with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel by two doctors and six nurses at the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA who alleged hospital officials concealed the Legionella discovery for months.

“We found violations of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Health Administration policy, and note that a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety existed at Loma Linda,” the November 2018 report said. 

The report did not substantiate several other whistleblower allegations about the medical center, including a nursing shortage and unsanitary conditions. 

Read the article. 



May 16, 2019


Topic Area: Infection Control


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