This Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 file photo shows the Exeter Hospital in Exeter, N.H. David Kwiatkowski, a former traveling medical technician and former worker at the New Hampshire hospital, is currently serving a 39 year sentence in prison for stealing painkillers and replacing them with saline-filled syringes tainted with his hepatitis C positive blood, infecting more than 40 patients with hepatitis C across four states.
New Hampshire created the Board of Registration for Medical Technicians in response to David Kwiatkowski, who is serving 39 years in prison for stealing painkillers and replacing them with saline-filled syringes tainted with his blood.At the time, officials hoped the board would become a model for other states, but that hasn’t happened. And those who want to ditch it say it creates unnecessary bureaucracy at a time when health care facilities are struggling to hire workers.
“Every time I go into the hospital, I can’t help but wonder, is this a repeat?” she said. “Cured or not, the thoughts and anxiety are still there.” The registry New Hampshire eventually created applies to all health care workers who are not otherwise already licensed or registered and have access to both patients and drugs. Hospitals are required to report disciplinary actions to the board, which also investigates complaints and takes disciplinary action.
Schmidt said his goal was to shift some of the administrative burden from the board to the larger agency. He hopes the Senate will either kill the amended bill or return to his original idea.