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a <br />C: <br />J <br />October 31, 2003 <br />Kasey Foley <br />SJC Public Health Services <br />Environmental Health Division <br />Medical Waste Management Program <br />304 East Weber Avenue <br />Stockton, CA 95202 <br />Dear Ms. Foley: <br />A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION <br />Associated with Sutter Health <br />NOV <br />0 4 2003 <br />-lVU1,>i`UEl • . <br />Q (?"T 11iV�SER' CFS Ta <br />This letter is in follow-up to the self-reported incident of October 21, 2003, wherein treated pathological <br />waste was inadvertently disposed of in the municipal waste stream. Upon completion of our preliminary <br />investigation on October 21, 2003, Linda Knowles contacted Lori Cotulla of your office to report the <br />incident and request direction. <br />The waste consisted of two weeks of accumulated tissue waste, drained of excess 10% neutral buffered <br />formalin, and the associated specimen containers. The aggregated waste, in three red bags labeled <br />`infectious waste', was sterilized in the Sani-Pak unit prior to discharge to the solid waste bin. <br />The following corrective measures were taken: <br />(1) The Environmental Service worker had remedial training (10/21/2003) to ensure the employee <br />was able to independently differentiate between infectious waste collection containers and <br />pathological waste collection containers, and the distinctive labeling associated with these <br />containers. <br />(2) The storage/staging area for pathological waste containers awaiting pickup by the contract waste <br />disposal company was permanently relocated (10/28/2003) to a central, secured area within the <br />facility in order to ensure that the potential for future mishaps of this type is eliminated. <br />We trust that you will find our corrective measures satisfactory. <br />Sincerely, <br />Mark G. Koenig, MS, CH P <br />Director, ALRMS <br />(209)461-3184 Office <br />(209)461-7578 Fax <br />cc: Nicholas Arismendi, COO <br />Linda Knowles, MS, RN, CIC, Nurse Epidemiologist <br />Dennis Gorton, Director, Environmental Services <br />525 W. ACACIA STREET 4 STOCKTON . CA 95203 � 209 . 944.5550 <br />Providing Generations of Care with Today's Technology <br />