11 Cases of Hepatitis C Following Scrub Tech Investigation

Sara Gandy
9News.com

July 18, 2009—The lives of at least 11 people have been permanently altered after former scrub technician at Rose Medical Center reportedly swapped a powerful painkiller with saline, potentially exposing thousands of patients to hepatitis C.

Eleven patients of Rose Medical Center between October 2008 and April 2009 have tested positive for hepatitis C in relation to this case. Kristen Parker is at the center of a federal investigation after testing positive for hepatitis C. Investigators suspect she injected herself with Fentanyl and then filled up the dirty syringes with saline before placing them back on an anesthesiologist's cart.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released their latest numbers Friday. They say of the thousands of people potentially exposed to hepatitis C, 11 have tested positive.

Parker claims she did not know she had hepatitis C when she was hired by Rose, but the hospital insists it told her the positive results of tests.

In the meantime, Rose Medical Center reports that more than 2,500 patients have been tested for hepatitis C so far. Around 4,700 have been urged to get tested. Rose says those who should be tested had surgery at Rose or at the Wolf Building from October 21, 2008 to April 13, 2009.

At least 15 people connected to Rose have tested positive for hepatitis C, but investigators say only 11 are connected to Parker.

Parker also worked at the Audubon Surgical Center in Colorado Springs and authorities say she could have exposed about 1,000 patients to hepatitis C there. So far none of those patients have tested positive in relation to Parker's investigation.

Additionally, a hospital in Westchester County, New York is notifying about 2,800 patients that they could have been exposed to hepatitis C. Parker was employed there last year before moving to Colorado.

No patients at the Westchester County hospital contracted hepatitis C so far, but the hospital is alerting patients as a precaution.

Parker is in federal custody and the U.S. Attorney's office says she could potentially face more charges from the New York investigation.

If Parker is found guilty on all charges she currently faces, she could face more than 30 years in prison. If the court finds her actions seriously harmed someone, she could face additional prison time. If the court finds her actions caused death, Parker could face life in prison.

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Hepatitis C Outbreak

Kristen Parker was employed as a surgery tech at the following hospitals:

Rose Medical Center
Audubon Ambulatory Surgery Center
Northern Westchester Hospital
Christus St. Johnson Hospital

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