Bureau’s inspections at 50 facilities done

Surveyors with the state Bureau of Licensure and Certification have completed inspections at each of the state's 50 ambulatory surgery centers. However, surveyors still need to observe procedures at two of the facilities.

Seven facilities, most notably the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada at 700 Shadow Lane, were found to have major deficiencies. During an inspection of the facility in January, Southern Nevada Health District officials discovered nurse anesthetists reusing syringes on patients carrying hepatitis C and contaminated single-dose vials of medication used on multiple patients.

Licensing surveyors found that the facility also didn't properly clean scopes and didn't follow manufacturer protocols for the use of single-dose medication vials and single-use syringes.

The other facilities with major deficiencies are:

•Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center at 4275 S. Burnham Ave. An inspection was conducted at the facility Jan. 30. Surveyors found staff improperly using single-dose medication vials on multiple patients. Health officials did not observe the reuse of syringes. The center is closed. This week, health officials announced a patient may have contracted hepatitis C at the facility in 2006.

•Centennial Spine and Pain Center at 4454 N. Decatur Blvd. On March 11, surveyors found staff reusing a single-dose medication vial on multiple patients. The practice was corrected immediately by the facility's management. The facility is open, and there have been no reports of disease spread at the center.

•Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Clinic at 3196 S. Maryland Parkway. Surveyors inspected the facility Feb. 15 and found Dr. Scott Young, an anesthesiologist, reusing syringes and single-dose medication vials for multiple patients. Currently, only administrative duties can be performed at the facility.

•Shadow Mountain Surgical Center, 7135 W. Sahara Ave. The facility was inspected March 14. The report said the center lacked a governing body responsible for operation and establishment of infectious disease control protocols. The center is open; no disease spread has been linked to the center.

•Lake Tahoe Surgery Center at 212 Elks Point Road in Zephyr Cove. The facility was inspected March 13, when surveyors found staff improperly sterilizing equipment.

•Sierra Center for Foot Surgery at 1801 N. Carson St., in Carson City. During an inspection March 14, a nurse told surveyors that she had observed an anesthesiologist reusing syringes on multiple patients. The facility's podiatrist told surveyors that some of the anesthesiologists did reuse syringes at the facility. The practice was corrected, and the facility is open. No reported disease transmission has been linked to the facility.

Of the facilities that have undergone complete inspections, surveyors found no deficiencies in 24 of them. Minor to moderate problems, such as lack of documentation, were identified in 19 of the centers.

At two of the centers -- Las Vegas Specialty Surgery Center and Spanish Hills Surgical Center -- surveyors still need to observe procedures.

Las Vegas Specialty Surgery Center is closed because of remodeling. Spanish Hills Surgery Center, which is affiliated with the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, is closed.

Contact reporter Annette Wells at awells@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0283.