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DaVita suspects four patient deaths caused by former employee


The Lufkin Daily News

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A DaVita spokesman said the company suspects four patient deaths at its dialysis clinic in Lufkin to be caused by a former employee.

"We suspect an unusual cluster of four patient deaths in April," said Michael Chee in an interview Tuesday.

The cluster of patient deaths is not indicative of the number of patients who died in April, Chee said.

The company has said it fired an employee from its 700 South John Redditt Drive facility April 29, a day after closing its doors for an investigation into a recent spike in patient deaths by local, state and federal agencies.

A Lufkin police spokesman has said the department is investigating allegations made against one employee, which is a part of its ongoing investigation into the clinic.

Dr. David Van Wyck, a nephrologist who is vice president of clinical services for DaVita and working with state officials during the investigation of the Lufkin clinic, said on average two to three patients die a month at dialysis centers.

He said that they do not occur on a regular basis and patients on dialysis have a higher death rate than the general population. But in some ways, the doctor added, dialysis patient deaths tend to reflect the general population.

"What we noticed (at the Lufkin facility) was a pattern of deaths and health-related events and we think that those are attributable to the suspected actions of a single individual," he said.

DaVita and LPD would not release further information about the employee or investigation at the facility, saying the investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made and no charges filed.

DaVita said it is currently working with state health officials to draft a corrective action plan in response to a report the state is expected to release in the coming weeks.

Chee refused to go into details about what kinds of corrective action the facility had been discussing with state officials before it can reopen.

"Anything we are dealing with the state right now, until it comes a matter of public record, is confidential and the state would say the same thing because we don't, again, know to what extent or what issues we will be working with them," Chee said.

Corrective action plans are requested by the state from dialysis centers after an investigation is conducted.

DaVita, which has been closed since April 28, cannot reopen without the state's approval. Chee said there is no indication from the state about when the facility would reopen, but he said staff will be ready to care for patients the day the center can reopen.

During the same interview Tuesday, Chee said a state surveyor's 2007 findings of inadequately trained personnel at the Lufkin dialysis center represent an "isolated incident" and not linked to a recent investigation by Texas Department of State Health Services, Lufkin Police Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We do not consider any of the events in that or prior survey findings related to the incidents that happened in the Lufkin facility this April," Chee said.

A survey conducted July 17, 2007, at the center stated a facility administrator changed several patients' dialysis treatments without consulting a physician.

"A review of the list of patients found 22 (out of 22) patients were being dialyzed with the incorrect dialysate," the report stated.

The surveyor stayed on site that day to make sure patients were returned to their doctor-ordered treatments and followed up Aug. 22 to see that the facility had followed through with its corrective plan, as approved by the state, said state spokeswoman Carrie Williams on Monday.

Surveys conducted in 2003 and 2006, at the facility's former location at 509 Chestnut Village, stated the facility was noncompliant with state health standards. The state also made follow-up visits to DaVita during those years to make sure the facility was carrying out its corrective plan, Williams said.

Staff writer Ashley Cook contributed to this report.

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Comments

By urbandjazz1

Oct 2, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

DaVita is indeed very money hungry!! They would not
support me on a physical threat from a patient.
Can not in good faith work for a company that would not
support me. Now working for FMC.

By Action needs to be made

Sep 18, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

This company is the worst. Trust me I know because I worked for them and they are a bunch of evil, coniving, money hungry people (Davita). Everything that I've read from articles and as well as from family members of patients that belong to Davita facilities all say the same thing. The state has also stated that they're basically always non compliant with the state. And that is true because I've done research about Davita in other states and they're all saying the same thing. We need to come together and put them out of business because patients are not getting the proper care. And the patients are paying their salaries and just making the big wigs of Davita richer and it's not fair. The unit I worked in New York is horrible and another unit has just closed down in New York as well. Please everyone come together and makea public stand to the media so the whole nation could know what Davita is all about. I will be making a stand to my state governor as well as the media real soon.

By Delia

Aug 21, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this

What is going on with this situation? Is this nurse being charged, being let go or what? I would like an update.

By wow gold

Aug 6, 2008 1:49 AM | Link to this

wow gold
wow gold

By wow gold

Aug 6, 2008 1:42 AM | Link to this

wow gold
wow gold

By ex tech indiana

Jul 30, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

Obviously only the first line of my comment was read because i go on to explain that I cannot live my life being pissed for there decision on there own choice for there life. But i do get upset that i try and try to explain to them the bad decisions they make will ultimatly kill them. The resentment I feel I guess I should say is more towards other staff because of there lack of care for patients and there love for money, as well as higher up davita employees who do not actually work in a facility with these people, make it impossible for the pts to hear my voice because everyone else around us few caring staff is saying who cares just make sure your here and on time so we don't have any delays and you better not have any problems or will be really mad at you.

By concerned

Jul 29, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

There is no reason for resentment towards patients. The patients are the reason you have a job. Resent the company that promises you something that they know you will never get. If you are just there for the money you are in the wrong place. Sure, everyone goes to work to get a paycheck, but if that is the ONLY reason you go to work, you need to find another field to work in. Healthcare is no place for you. Love of money is what caused all of this in the first place. DaVita and their greed, not wanting to spend money where it needs to be spent and cutting corners that shouldn't be cut.

By another one

Jul 28, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this

"Would we feel slight resentment to patients that do not meet there goals and affect the bonus" "a little sure!"

And, this tells it all. Patient care driven by bonuses? Resentment towards patients! Thanks for your honesty. If this is prevalent a closer look is warranted.

By ex tech to professional

Jul 27, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

Would we feel slight resentment to patients that do not meet there goals and affect the bonus? a little sure! but they are, for the most part, adults they will do as they wish. It is our job to take care of them while there at treatment and educate them on the decisions they should be making with there diets and meds. But, again they are adults and it helps me to sleep knowing I at least tried instead of being pissed off about there "own life" decision they have made. Regardless of all that, the matter is I never felt that good about caring for these patients because Davita wouldn't give me that time to properly care for them! Because of this we were making there condition worse rather than better. If they feel we don't care and were pushing them aside then why should they care. Are push aside, scream at them for making a wrong decision attitude gives them the same reaction. They think fine then i might as well push my care aside to because if "professional's" are doing it why can't I?!?

By professional

Jul 24, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

Would staff feel resentment towards patients who did not meet goals which affected their (staff) bonuses?

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