The water chemistry imbalance at PeaceHealth St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham, Wash., has been identified and fixed so the operating rooms are once again open for surgeries, according to an article on The Bellington Herald website.
On Sept. 2, the hospital was forced to postpone surgeries for all patients except those who required emergency care. Full surgical services at St. Joseph returned to regular operations on Sept. 15. The hospital's emergency department remained open and continue to accept patients.
The two issues identified as causing the disruption were steam chemistry and the balance between the water and a new detergent used for disinfection.
The water issue is affecting sterilization, according to an article on the Becker’s Hospital Review website.
Read the full Bellingham Herald article.
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