Can you trust the water at Kaiser Permanente?

Recently, the healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente confirmed that broken hot water lines at their Zion Medical Center in Grantville caused the facility to transfer patients to their Kearny Mesa facility.

While routine medical procedures such as dialysis continued, surgeries were initially postponed. Kaiser clarified that the water line problem would not affect the medical center’s cold water system, but many employees worried that the entire water system would be shut down. 

While water system issues are new problems, this is not the first time something has gone wrong at Kaiser Permanente. Limiting doctor visits, long ER wait times, birth injuries, misdiagnoses, a broken mental health care system — the list of complaints and malpractice lawsuits is endless. 

But a broken water system is just as critical, particularly because clean water is essential for important hospital operations. Without it, Kaiser is putting even more people at risk of infections and other health-related issues.

Updated precautions

In addition to water being used in dialysis and surgery, hospitals use clean water for everything from hand washing and toilet flushing, to keeping patients hydrated and diagnostic testing such as CT scans or ultrasounds. 

Without clean water at Kaiser facilities, staff will not be able to sterilize equipment or prepare medications correctly. This could lead to delays or cancellations of procedures and contamination in addition to compromising the safety of patients.

But, more importantly, patients with compromised immune systems, open wounds, or who are undergoing surgery will be particularly vulnerable to infection and life-threatening conditions.

Furthermore, in the event of a disaster or emergency, a properly working water system becomes even more crucial. Hospitals need access to water for emergency response efforts such as firefighting and decontamination.

Another mark on their record

Kaiser Permanente could face serious consequences if they continue to have problems with their facilities. When a hospital cannot provide basic sanitation and healthcare, they put patient safety at risk and open the door for more malpractice.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice on behalf of a Kaiser healthcare provider or hospital, contact the San Diego Law Offices of Scott S. Harris. He specializes in helping patients that have been injured while under the care of a medical professional or facility. And he has great experience fighting the tactics used by insurance companies and healthcare providers to avoid paying claims. 

Find out if your case qualifies to sue Kaiser Permanente or if you need the best legal representation in an arbitration case.