AdventHealth Porter is a non-profit hospital in Denver owned by AdventHealth. In 2014, the hospital was designated a Level III trauma center by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.[2] In 2018, the hospital had a sterilization breach and was sued by 3,000 people. It settled the lawsuits for $6.5 million.[3]
AdventHealth Porter | |
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AdventHealth | |
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Geography | |
Location | 2525 S. Downing Street, Denver, Colorado, United States |
Coordinates | 39°40′13″N 104°58′30″W / 39.67028°N 104.97500°W |
Organization | |
Care system | Private hospital |
Funding | Non-profit hospital |
Type | General hospital |
Services | |
Emergency department | Level III trauma center |
Beds | 368[1] |
Helipad | Aeronautical chart and airport information for 69CO at SkyVector |
History | |
Former name(s) | Porter Sanitarium Hospital Porter Memorial Hospital Porter Adventist Hospital |
Opened | 1930 |
Links | |
Website | adventhealth |
Lists | Hospitals in Colorado |
History
editOn February 16, 1930, Porter Sanitarium Hospital opened with 100 beds. It was named after businessman Henry M. Porter who was inspired to give $1 million and 40 acres to the Seventh-day Adventist Church after being treated at two sanatoriums owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[4][5]
In 1996, Porter Adventist Hospital became part of Centura Health when it was founded by Adventist Health System and Catholic Health Initiatives.[6]
In late 2017, the Colorado Senate passed a law requiring hospitals to have their chargemaster on its website by January 1, 2018.[7][8][9] Also the United States government required all hospitals to do the same by January 1, 2021.[10] On August 9, 2022, Porter Adventist Hospital still had refused to comply with the state and federal laws.[11] To force hospitals to comply with the federal law the Colorado House of Representatives and Colorado Senate both passed laws forbidding hospitals from collecting debt by reporting patients to collection agencies.[12][13]
On February 14, 2023, Centura Health announced that it would split up.[14][15] On August 1, Centura Health officially split up with Porter Adventist Hospital rebranding to AdventHealth Porter.[16][17] On October 30, AdventHealth Porter closed when it lost heat and hot water at 8:45 a.m. after their second boiler failed during a cold snap. Two weeks before, the hospital had its first boiler fail and they ordered a replacement from a company in Texas. 90 patients were transferred to AdventHealth Castle Rock, AdventHealth Littleton and AdventHealth Parker by South Metro Fire Rescue and local EMS.[18][19][20] On October 31, 55 patients were transferred and 30 others were released.[19][21] Its two boilers were fixed and a temporary one was installed on November 1. On November 9, at 7:00 a.m. AdventHealth Porter reopened resuming its emergency and acute care services.[22][23][24]
Sterilization breach and aftermath
editOn February 21, 2018, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was told of a sterilization breach at Porter Adventist Hospital. The following day they did a survey of the infection control practices at the hospital.[25][26] The Joint Commission visited the hospital in February after hearing complaints at the hospital.[27][28] On April 3, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment did a second survey after hearing about inadequately cleaned surgical equipment.[25]
On April 4, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced to the public that at Porter Adventist Hospital they were investigating a sterilization breach.[29] On the same day as the announcement the hospital mailed 5,800 letters to patients who were put at risk from July 21, 2016, to February 20, 2018.[27][25][26] Later it was extended to April 5.[30] During that time period patients who had orthopedic surgery were put at risk of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.[25][29][31] During its investigation the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment found out that the hospital knew that patients were getting infections as early as 2017.[32][33]
On April 5, Porter Adventist Hospital canceled almost all of its surgeries.[25] On April 6, the hospital offered patients testing for blood diseases. On the same day Porter Adventist Hospital suspended all surgeries until the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment considered it safe to reopen all operating rooms.[30][34] On April 11, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment found some patients had surgical site infections.[35] The next day Porter Adventist Hospital resumed some of its surgeries.[28][36][37]
On June 15, Porter Adventist Hospital was sued by 67 former patients and 20 spouses.[33][38][39] Those suing the hospital later increased to over 200 and then to over 3,000.[40][41] They claim that the contaminated surgical instruments were also used for other surgeries, with hundreds of them getting sick from hepatitis B, meningitis, urinary tract infections, E. coli and staph infections.[39] One patient died from sepsis and pneumonia after having surgery at the hospital.[42][43]
Before the plaintiffs sued they used the Colorado Open Records Act to request the release of the documents of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environments investigation. They were released in August 2018.[44] After the documents were released Porter Adventist Hospital asked a judge to ban the use of some of the documents, even to order them to be destroyed or returned. The Colorado Attorney General also agreed that the documents should have never been released and ordered them destroyed, which the plaintiffs refused to do.[44] In July 2020, Denver District Court Judge Morris B. Hoffman rejected all of the protective orders requested by Porter Adventist Hospital, which it had requested in May of that year. Porter Adventist Hospital appealed the ruling to the Colorado Supreme Court.[44]
On January 13, 2021, the judges heard the appeal and were reluctant to overturn the decision of the district court judge. In the end the judges dismissed the appeal and returned the case back to Denver District Court Judge Morris B. Hoffman.[45][40] On June 21, 2023, the Denver District Court Judge accepted the $6.5 million class action settlement.[41][46]
Services
editOn July 3, 2018, Porter Adventist Hospital announced that it would suspend its kidney, liver and pancreas organ transplantation program to make improvements with the help of the Florida Hospital Transplant Institute. This affected 232 patients who received letters telling them that they would have to go to other Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center and UCHealth hospitals for their procedures.[47][48][49] On July 19, 2019, Porter Adventist Hospital announced that it would resume its organ transplantation program.[50][51]
On October 25, 2023, AdventHealth Porter signed a commercial agreement with Aclarion to bring their Nociscan technology to Denver. The hospital will become the first health facility in the city to use the technology, to treat patients with chronic low back pain.[52][53]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "AdventHealth Porter". U.S. Acute Care Solutions. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ Draper, Electa (December 19, 2014). "Porter Adventist Hospital receives trauma III designation from state". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ Ducassi, Daniel (September 14, 2023). "Patients, Denver Hospital Ink $6.5M Deal Over Dirty OR Claims". Law360. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Sanitarium To Open On Feb. 16". Rocky Mountain News. February 8, 1930. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection.
- ^ "Porter Adventist Hospital (Denver) | 100 great hospitals in America in 2016". Becker's Hospital Review. May 5, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ Svaldi, Aldo (December 11, 2017). "Hospital owners merge; Catholic Health Initiative to move HQ from Denver". The Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ Sealover, Ed (December 29, 2017). "Colorado hospitals must begin posting prices for most common procedures on Jan. 1". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Masterson, Les (January 3, 2018). "Colorado law requires hospitals post prices for common procedures". Healthcare Dive. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Morse, Susan (January 5, 2018). "Colorado signs law mandating that hospitals post self-pay prices". Healthcare Finance. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Younts, JoAnna; Gorelik, Konstantin (October 14, 2022). "Price transparency data provides new visibility into real rates paid to providers". Healthcare Dive. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ Low, Rob (August 9, 2022). "Study: 31 Colorado hospitals not complying with price transparency law". KDVR. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Lee, Alina (August 7, 2022). "Price transparency laws enforced for Colorado hospitals". KXRM-TV. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Metzger, Hannah (April 19, 2023). "Colorado Senate OKs enforcing price transparency for hospitals". Colorado Politics. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Reeves, Melissa (February 14, 2023). "Colorado hospital system Centura Health breaking up". KUSA. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ "Centura Health splits into two companies after 27 years". CBS Colorado. February 15, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Vogel, Susanna (August 3, 2023). "Centura fold finalized; CommonSpirit and AdventHealth divvy up hospital portfolio". Healthcare Dive. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Romano, Analisa (August 2, 2023). "AdventHealth, CommonSpirit Health rebrand with end of Centura". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ McRae, Jennifer (October 30, 2023). "Denver's AdventHealth Porter hospital without hot water, heat due to boiler system failure". CBS Colorado. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Reeves, Melissa (October 30, 2023). "Hospital evacuates patients, staff after boiler system breaks, leaving no heat or hot water". KUSA (TV). Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Langford, Katie (October 30, 2023). "AdventHealth Porter hospital in Denver closes after losing heat, hot water". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ McKinley, Carol (October 31, 2023). "Denver hospital evacuates patients, staff after boiler system breaks, leaving no heat or hot water". The Denver Gazette. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ McRae, Jennifer (November 9, 2023). "Denver's AdventHealth Porter hospital reopens after closure for boiler system failure". CBS Colorado. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ Whitley, Morgan (November 9, 2023). "AdventHealth Porter hospital reopens after failed boiler". KDVR. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ Factor, Jacob (November 9, 2023). "AdventHealth Porter hospital reopens after boiler system failure forces 10-day closure". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Porter Adventist Hospital Puts Most Surgeries On Hold". CBS Colorado. April 5, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Jones, Sheena (April 5, 2018). "Past surgical patients at a Denver hospital may be at risk of HIV, hepatitis, state warns". CNN health. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Ingold, John (April 12, 2018). "Bone fragment stuck to surgical tool provided early clue to Porter hospital's cleaning woes". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ a b "Porter Adventist Hospital Resumes Surgeries After Sterilization Issue". CBS Colorado. April 12, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ a b Rettner, Rachael (April 5, 2018). "Hospital 'Breach' May Have Exposed Patients to HIV, Hepatitus: What Went Wrong?". Live Science. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Hernandez, Elizabeth (April 6, 2018). "Porter Adventist Hospital extends period patients may have been at risk of contracting disease, suspends all surgeries for now". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ Hernandez, Elizabeth (April 4, 2018). "Denver hospital surgery patients warned of potential risk of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ Vatican, Johnny (June 19, 2019). "Colorado Hospital Faces Lawsuit After Contaminated Surgical Tools Led To Infections, One Death". Medical Daily. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ a b "Patients say dirty instruments caused hundreds of infections". Associated Press. June 17, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Contreras, Oscar (April 6, 2018). "Porter Adventist Hospital cancels more surgeries following sterilization breach". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ Ingold, John (April 11, 2018). "Colorado Health Department confirms surgical infections at Porter, but link to sterilization flaws unclear". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ "Surgeries set to resume at Porter Adventist Hospital after sterilization breach". KDVR. April 11, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ Minor, Nathaniel (April 12, 2018). "Surgeries Back On As Porter Hospital Officials Say 'We're Sorry'". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ Aaro, David (June 16, 2019). "Colorado hospital faces lawsuit from dozens of patients over 'severe infections'". Fox News. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ a b Newman, Katelyn (June 17, 2019). "Lawsuit Alleges Infections, Death Tied to Hospital Sterilization Procedures". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ a b Karlik, Michael (January 19, 2021). "State Supreme Court dismisses appeal from Denver hospital being sued for infections". Colorado Politics. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ a b "Portercare Adventist Health System instrument sterilization $6.5M class action settlement". Top Class Actions. June 21, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ^ Rettner, Rachael (June 20, 2019). "Dirty Surgical Instruments Tied to Hundreds of Infections at Colorado Hospital, Lawsuit Alleges". Live Science. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Delmonico, Kimberly (July 22, 2019). "Lawsuit Alleges Dirty Instruments Caused Hundreds Of Infections". Orthopedics This Week. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c Karlik, Michael (January 8, 2021). "Col. Supreme Court to decide if state's release of public records should now be confidential". Colorado Politics. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ Karlik, Michael (January 14, 2023). "Justices question Denver hospital's desire to suppress public records in patient injury lawsuit". Colorado Politics. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ Delmonico, Kim (July 3, 2023). "Instrument Sterilization Class Action Settles For $6.5M". Orthopedics This Week. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ^ Svaldi, Aldo (July 3, 2018). "Porter Adventist suspends transplant operations, forcing 232 patients to find another hospital". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ Sealover, Ed (July 3, 2018). "Denver hospital suspends organ-transplant program". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ Nedelman, Michael (July 5, 2018). "Patients on transplant waitlists face uncertainty after hospital suspends program". CNN health. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ Seaman, Jessica (July 19, 2019). "Denver's Porter Adventist Hospital in "final stages" of restarting organ transplants a year after suspending services". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "Colorado hospital to resume transplant surgeries yer later". Associated Press. July 19, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ Sandberg, Josh (October 25, 2023). "Aclarion Announces Signing of Commercial Agreement With Porter Hospital, an AdventHealth facility, to Bring Nociscan Technology to Denver". OrthoSpineNews. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ "AdventHealth Porter to use Aclarion technology for back pain". Hospital Management. October 26, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
External links
edit- Official website
- Porter Sanitarium and Hospital Denver Public Library
- Centura Health-Porter Adventist Hospital HospitalCompare
- Centura Health-Porter Adventist Hospital (Denver, CO) USA Today
- Porter Adventist Hospital debuts an army of germ-fighting robots Denverite
- Group of doctors travels abroad to perform free surgeries KSL.com
- Ahead of the Curve at Porter Adventist Hospital Foodservice Equipment Reports