The sterilization problem at Windsor Regional Hospital's Ouellette campus is nearing its ultimate solution according to President and CEO David Musyj.
A new steam to steam system from the US is set to come in — at the latest — early next week.
The old system is able to sterilize medical equipment but continues to produce staining, so Musyj says they won't turn to it while the new system is installed.
Materials to be sanitized pictured at Windsor Regional Hospital on June 23, 2016. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
"The issue is when we're so close to getting the ultimate solution in place why revert back if currently things are operating fine using Met [the Metropolitan campus] and Leamington [District Memorial Hospital]?" says Musyj, adding the hospital is hoping to have the new system installed in just two weeks.
Musyj credits health care workers and partners for their efforts in helping operations flow at the hospital.
"The staff have done an amazing job in accommodating all of the surgeries, getting the instruments sterilized here at Met and again a great thank you out to Leamington," says Musyj.
The sterilization issue at the hospital stretches back to June when administration first announced it would have to cancel surgeries because sterilization equipment wasn't working. After a short resolution, the problem popped up again in August.
Musyj expects the total cost of the sterilization issue to be at a little over a million dollars. He says the hospital will talk to the Erie-St. Clair LHIN about covering the cost or potentially going through insurance.
