The LaCrosse Tribune is reporting the dentist, who is not named because of federal employee protections, was hired in 2015. He was reusing drill bits without properly sterilizing them. According to VA hospital protocol, drill bits are be disposed of after one use.
The acting medical center director, Victoria Brahm told WEAU that the dentist was using his own instruments, including drill bits, sterilizing them and reusing them in violation of VA regulations.
This went on from October 2015 until October 2016, when a dental assistant filling in for the dentist’s regular assistant reported the violation. The dentist worked on 592 patients during that time. The dentist has not been fired, but instead, was put on administrative duties while under investigation.
The dentist’s regular assistant is also under investigation. A review board will meet on December 5 to recommend appropriate disciplinary action against the dentist.
Brahm praised the dental assistant who came forward to report the health violation, saying she hoped the administrative changes she has made since taking over her duties at the hospital have made it more comfortable for employees to speak out.
“We’ve been working really hard to change the culture,” Brahm said. Brahm also said dental assistants are now being rotated regularly so they don’t work with one dentist all the time.
VA spokesman Matthew Gowan said the screening tests for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV are being offered free to the veterans who have been contacted. So far, there have been no positive tests, but Gowan says the tests are “precautionary.”
“There is no indication of a transmission of an infection,” Gowan said. “Out of an abundance of caution, it’s still the proper thing to do.” If any of the veterans are found to be infected, the VA says it “will provide the necessary care and treatment without charge.”
Brahm says this incident wasn’t a matter of the dentist not knowing the regulations but was a conscious, willful act on his part. “It was purposeful that he was violating VA regulations,” she said. “During all of the orientation, he used all of our equipment. He used it appropriately, so it was very purposeful from what we found in our investigation that he knew exactly what he was doing, and preferred to use his own equipment against procedure.”
