Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is offering an explanation for any patients who received multiple or conflicting letters concerning CT scans and obstetrical ultrasounds read by an unqualified radiologist at Powell River General Hospital.
Recently, two residents of Powell River came forward with stories of letters from VCH with confusing or seemingly inaccurate information. A client of Powell River Brain Injury Society, whose name has not been released, received two letters from VCH for a CT scan he had last August. One letter said a discrepancy had been found between a first and second reading of his scan; the other said no discrepancy had been found.
Christine Schreiber received 16 letters concerning ultrasounds she had in 2007 and 2008, when pregnant with twins. Also one letter concerned an ultrasound from 2003, which Schreiber says is impossible as she didn’t even live in Powell River at the time.
Gavin Wilson, director of public affairs for VCH, explained that every procedure and ultrasound warranted a letter. Often patients don’t realize that more than one scan may be taken during one session in a CT scanner. In this situation it is likely the patient would receive multiple letters from VCH, one for each scan taken. In the case of the man from Powell River, Wilson suspects he had two scans during the same appointment and one did not get flagged during a second reading, while the other did.
As for the 16 letters Schreiber received, Wilson said she would have most likely received a letter for each ultrasound she had and for each twin. Wilson said he would inquire into the letter with the incorrect date
Wilson said it is regrettable multiple letters to single patients couldn’t have been consolidated but efficiency has been the primary concern. With over 3,000 procedures to address it was in the interest of time that information was distributed this way, which, Wilson said, unfortunately has caused some confusion.
