Yes, physician owned centers are an issue. But VA centers as in the article about the colonoscopies are not physician owned. Administrators decided to go with a cheaper cleaning solution, even though that solution was not effective against killing viruses. This was not a physician choice or decision, and I doubt the physician is present during the cleaning of the equipment.
Benefit vs risk. If the benefits are good for them, they will take the risk. The VA hospital may get fined/have settlements, but they have been doing this for a decade so overall they are coming out on top. The bad publicity is like passing wind, and they aren't losing any patients over it anyway.
In all fairness, the physician is held responsible because everyone is billing under their name, but in reality it takes a team to take care of a patient. A doc can easily clean their hands and stethoscope. The pressure cuff the nurse just used....when was the last time that was cleaned? Who does the cleaning of the surgical equipment (Just because it looks clean, doesn't mean it is)? Is the lab tech cleaning in between patients? Did you see them open a fresh needle pack, or was it the same one from the last patient?
Kemestry is right that more should be done, but the problem is that the medical field is very much like a corporation dodging taxes. For every law or regulation, they can find a loophole.
It's a sad world we live in.
Benefit vs risk. If the benefits are good for them, they will take the risk. The VA hospital may get fined/have settlements, but they have been doing this for a decade so overall they are coming out on top. The bad publicity is like passing wind, and they aren't losing any patients over it anyway.
In all fairness, the physician is held responsible because everyone is billing under their name, but in reality it takes a team to take care of a patient. A doc can easily clean their hands and stethoscope. The pressure cuff the nurse just used....when was the last time that was cleaned? Who does the cleaning of the surgical equipment (Just because it looks clean, doesn't mean it is)? Is the lab tech cleaning in between patients? Did you see them open a fresh needle pack, or was it the same one from the last patient?
Kemestry is right that more should be done, but the problem is that the medical field is very much like a corporation dodging taxes. For every law or regulation, they can find a loophole.
It's a sad world we live in.