Mission Hospital stops elective surgeries after infections

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (KABC) -- A major function of the third largest hospital in Orange County is at a standstill. Mission Hospital shut down its 14 operating rooms in Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach after four people developed infections after surgeries this summer.

"We had a cluster of four infections, and keep in mind, this is four infections on 7,000 surgeries, over 7,000, we perform every year," said Dr. James Keany, associate director of emergency services.

The patients have since recovered with antibiotics. The ratio may be small, but it's enough for major accrediting agency, the Joint Commission, to get involved.

The Commission made a visit on Oct. 7 and 8 and sent Eyewitness News the following statement:

"Following the survey, Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center received a preliminary denial of accreditation as a result of an immediate threat to health or safety to patients or the public."

If the hospital loses its accreditation, it could impact Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Keany said one of the major problems had to do with temperature and humidity in operating rooms.

In response, the hospital put all elective surgeries on hold.

"If it was an elected procedure and there was anything possible that we could've done to improve the environment for our patient, we would hate to rush that procedure," Keany said.

Solutions include putting in a new climate control system and reviewing procedures with hospital staff.

Keany wants patients to know that the hospital will fix all of these issues soon.

"No. 1, we're not going to operate until we know it's safe, but No. 2, I am completely confident that we could operate today and it would be entirely safe," Keany said.

The hospital must come into compliance with federal standards by Oct. 31 or risk losing its accreditation.