A startling report released on Tuesday by the Veteran's Administration Inspector General outlines severe training deficiencies in many of our Veterans Affairs hospitals.

The deficiencies have led to the possible infection of thousands of veterans with diseases like HIV and Hepatitis via common procedures like colonoscopies. This comes after surprise inspections of 42 VA hospitals, which showed more than half did not meet standards.

The VA hospital in Salem was one of 42 facilities given surprise inspections last month, following the discovery of sterilization problems in a Tennessee facility. VA officials say the widespread deficiencies, after repeated warnings, suggest problems in the organizational structure.

Dr. Dennis B. Weiserbs with the Endoscopy Center of SW Virginia said, "The VA is an important part of our health care system so I think this is an interest to everyone."

Doctor Dennis Weiserbs understands the issue at hand well. He has worked in a VA hospital and now runs an office that is in the colonoscopy business. After every procedure, his instruments get a multi-layered cleaning that last nearly an hour.

"Our technicians have the most important job here and that's to follow a sequence of steps to disinfect the scopes," Weiserbs said.

A job that belongs to technician Vickie Sumner.  "You don't want anyone to get an infection. You want to make sure the procedure is clean," Sumner said.

And that includes enzyme soaks, bit by bit scrubbing, ultrasonic cleaning with chemicals, flushing and then an alcohol treatment.

According to Weiserbs, the key to ensuring no patient is contaminated is through training and keeping the sterilization process consistent. Something the VA in general is being accused of not doing

We tried to contact the VA Hospital in Salem regarding any specific information on the inspection there. Our calls have not been returned.

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