VA to face lawmakers’ questions after report finds continued problems with colonoscopies

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers sharply criticized the Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday about why a national scare over botched colonoscopies earlier this year didn’t prompt stronger safeguards at the agency’s medical centers.

APNewsBreak: Inspections show some VA facilities couldn’t prove they followed guidelines

WASHINGTON — Fewer than half of Veterans Affairs centers given a surprise inspection last month had proper training and guidelines in place for common endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopies — even after the agency learned that mistakes may have exposed thousands of veterans to HIV and other diseases.

AP NewsBreak: Inspections show some VA facilities couldn’t prove they followed guidelines

WASHINGTON — Fewer than half of Veterans Affairs centers given a surprise inspection last month had proper training and guidelines in place for common endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopies — even after the agency learned that mistakes may have exposed thousands of veterans to HIV and other diseases.

VA to tell House panel about mistakes with equipment used for colonoscopies, other procedures

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A congressional panel is pressing the Department of Veterans Affairs to disclose on Tuesday whether non-sterile equipment that may have exposed 10,000 veterans to HIV and other infections was isolated to three Southeast hospitals or is part of a wider problem.

Congressional panel to analyze VA hospital mishaps that put patients at risk of HIV, hepatitis

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A congressional panel will question Department of Veterans Affairs officials about mistakes that put patients at risk of possible exposure to HIV and other infectious body fluids at three VA hospitals.

Miami VA chief: Steps taken to prevent problems that caused exposure to contaminated equipment

MIAMI — The top Veterans Affairs official in Miami said Tuesday she has taken steps locally to prevent the kind of problems that exposed patients to contaminated medical equipment at VA hospitals in three states.

Miami VA chief: Steps taken to prevent problems that caused exposure to contaminated equipment

MIAMI — The top Veterans Affairs official in Miami said Tuesday she has taken steps locally to prevent the kind of problems that exposed patients to contaminated medical equipment at VA hospitals in three states.

Doctor: Patients testing positive for HIV, hepatitis can’t link infections to VA hospitals

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Former patients who tested positive for HIV or hepatitis will not be able to show they were infected by tainted equipment at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, a top doctor for the agency said Friday.

VA: 5th HIV case linked to unsterile hospital equipment; 7 more test positive for hepatitis

MIAMI — A fifth patient has tested positive for HIV, and seven more tested positive for hepatitis after being exposed to contaminated medical equipment at three Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, the agency said Friday.

Will Mexico City’s popular taco stands survive swine flu, pork fears?

MEXICO CITY — Tacos filled with pork, sizzling gorditas, juicy carnitas covered with salsa and gobbled down at sidewalk carts while pedestrians brush past — this is Mexico’s version of a fast-food joint, but it is now in peril because of the swine flu epidemic.

VA reports a 4th positive HIV test in wake of dirty hospital equipment, vets grow frustrated

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Thousands of veterans were at first shocked to learn they should get blood tests for HIV and hepatitis because three hospitals might have treated them with unsterile equipment. Now, just a couple of months after the Department of Veterans Affairs issued the dire warnings, veterans are growing frustrated by the lack of information from the tightlipped federal agency.

VA: 4th patient tests positive for HIV since agency said vets were exposed to dirty equipment

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Department of Veterans Affairs says a fourth person exposed to dirty equipment at its hospitals has tested positive for HIV.