The practice of using one syringe in two or more patients for intravenous medication at the High Prairie Health Complex was at the centre of controversy and confusion last week.
“Many things that have been in the press have been inaccurate,” says Dr. Robin Laughlin, chief of staff. “One report said that it had been happening for 20 years, another report said it was due to dirty needles.”
The concern is the multiple use of a syringe in procedures like endoscopies, which Laughlin performs. However, he reassures the public the risk of contracting infections is very low.
“Precautions have been taken. We will be following the single-syringe, single-patient regime,” says Laughlin.
He explains the needle goes into the patient’s vein, which introduces the cannula, or a tube, into the vein. The needle is then discarded and the cannula is attached to the heparin lock.
The heparin lock is connected to a syringe with the intravenous medication. The syringe was the part used for two or more patients until Oct. 2.
Laughlin praises the nursing staff for their handling of intravenous medications.
“I’ve done scopes here for over 20 years, mostly with the same nurses, so … I have every confidence in them,” he says. The single-syringe, multiple-patient practice was also used in dental surgeries. However, Dr. Nikhilesh Roy, owner of the High Prairie and Area Dental Centre at the complex, could not be reached for comment.
The government is trying to reassure High Prairie residents and patients the risk is low for contracting infectious diseases from the syringes.
Ken Hughes, chairperson of the Alberta Health Services Board, Health Minister Ron Liepert and Dr. Gerry Predy, Alberta’s acting chief medical officer of health, spoke at a news conference Oct. 27. Also there was Dr. Albert de Villiers, medical officer of health for Peace Country Health.
Liepert offered his own reassurances.
“This practice is cause for concern and it’s important to recognize that health professionals acted immediately to stop the practice in question when the concern was raised,” Liepert said to the Edmonton Journal.
“As we continue to make patient safety a key focus in Alberta’s health system, we may identify other practices that do not meet provincial standards, that the improper practices are identified and corrected and that lessons are learned and shared across the system.”
De Villiers told the Edmonton Journal the practice of re-using syringes was happening only at the High Prairie Health Complex and the mistake is being used as a learning tool.
The Albert Health Quality Council will be conducting a root cause analysis of how and why this practice happened. Its report will be made public when it is finished.
Meanwhile, PCH has ordered a review of patient records for endoscopies and dental surgeries and patients will be notified if they have to receive blood testing.
“Health experts have completed a risk assessment and the potential for infection is very low. Alberta Health Services – Peace Country Health is contacting all patients who may have been impacted by this practice to ensure any spread of infection is identified,” says a PCH news release.
It also says this may have occurred during endoscopy procedures performed between March 1, 2004 and Oct. 2, 2008, potentially involving up to 1,300 patients.
Dental surgery patients who received service before Oct. 2 may be contacted as well. A patient chart review is being conducted, going back to Jan. 1, 1990 up to Oct. 2 and could involve as many as 1,400 additional patients.
Patients’ blood will be tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV and the results will be available in about four weeks. PCH will personally contact any patients who have positive test results and all patients with negative results will be contacted by registered mail.
Vicky Barsalou is concerned she will receive such a letter. She had major back surgery in Grande Prairie in January 2004. Then she spent two weeks recovering at the High Prairie Health Complex, during which she received intravenous medications. She also had a gastroscopy (or endoscopy) in the summer of 2006.
Although Barsalou is concerned, she is not panicking.
“My first thought was, ‘Oh my gosh, I was in there at that time’. Immediately, you start worrying, but you try not to be a hypochondriac,” says Barsalou.
She knows people who are fearful about the situation.
“It is hitting a number of my friends who have small children who had dental surgery. They are just panicking.”
Barsalou is glad to hear there is a very low risk of contracting diseases from the syringes, but she is concerned about those who do not have strong immune systems.
“I am a healthy person, I don’t have a weakened immune system. But I think of the people that may have (undergone) these procedures that aren’t as healthy as I am and that are at greater risk than I am, perhaps.”
She has no ill will for PCH.
“It’s not going to make me start putting down Peace Country Health because they have given me excellent care. This is an error or mistake that has been made and I don’t believe in crucifying people for mistakes.”
Barsalou is the executive director of the High Prairie Friendship Centre. However, she spoke for herself, not the centre.

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