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VA Report Finds Dirty, Clean Equipment Stored Together

Cincinnati VA Medical Center

The government has released a new report about conditions at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center and its Ft. Thomas hospice care.

It was Sen. Sherrod Brown who asked the VA Office of Inspector General a year ago to look into three key areas following whistleblower reports that patients were at risk. This is the first of two reports Brown was expecting.

It finds that clean and dirty materials were still being stored together at the Community Living Center after a 2015 recommendation ordered them to be stored separately. Investigators were not able to substantiate other claims such as delayed intubation or deficiencies regarding the former Acting Chief of Staff's professional clinical practice.

The former Acting Chief of Staff was Dr. Barbara Temeck. She was suspended without pay last month for writing prescriptions for a private patient.

Brown says he has a commitment from Cincinnati VA Medical Director Vivian Hutson that the VA will follow new recommendations to ensure veterans aren't put at risk of infection due to dirty equipment.

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With more than 30 years of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market, Ann Thompson brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting. She has reported for WKRC, WCKY, WHIO-TV, Metro Networks and CBS/ABC Radio. Her work has been recognized by the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2019 and 2011 A-P named her “Best Reporter” for large market radio in Ohio. She has won awards from the Association of Women in Communications and the Alliance for Women in Media. Ann reports regularly on science and technology in Focus on Technology.