A veteran Pennsylvania radiologic technologist is solely to blame for failing to properly maintain the mammography unit, according to a spokesperson from Geisinger Health Systems. Her negligence resulted in inadequate screening exams for thousands of women.
An in-house investigation at the Lock Haven clinic determined that no other staff were involved, said Alison Delsite Everett, media manager for Geisinger. In fact, it was a medical physicist who discovered that the RT had not performing quality control on the equipment for at least six months, she said.
As a result, Geisinger has agreed to re-screen women who originally had mammograms between May 18, 2003, and May 18, 2005. Geisinger will have to pay for the new tests under an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Delsite Everett said that 1,481 letters had been mailed to women with an offer to re-screen. As of June 7, 123 have responded, she said. The women can undergo mammography at Geisinger's main hospital in Danville, PA, or at one of its other rural area clinics. Mammograms from rural clinics, such as Lock Haven, are generally read by radiologists at the Danville facility. The Lock Haven mammography facility will remain closed for the time being.
The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition released a statement that supported Geisinger rescreening offer. Geisinger made its announcement on Monday, but Ephrata-based advocacy group has not fielded any calls from concerned women, according to Amy Collins, public relations and community outreach coordinator for the coalition.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
June 9, 2005
Related Reading
PA mammo clinic fails QA, must pay for re-screens, June 9, 2005
IOM advocates more monitoring of ailing mammo services, May 27, 2005
Breast imaging trends show longer waits for screening mammo, more biopsies, May 6, 2005
Copyright © 2005 AuntMinnie.com
