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County health system launches audits after district attorney's review of medical waste and patient data handling
Summary
Santa Clara Valley Health told the committee it implemented audits, staff education and an external vendor to correct improper disposal of medical waste and confidential patient information; the committee requested quarterly progress reports.
Santa Clara Valley Health officials told the Health & Hospital Committee on March 19 that they have launched comprehensive audits and corrective steps after reports that medical waste and confidential patient materials were improperly disposed.
Dr. Brian McBess, chief quality officer for Santa Clara Valley Health, said the system began targeted "red-bag" audits in procedural areas where biohazardous disposal errors were concentrated and started a percent-weight audit of waste leaving all three acute care hospitals in early January. He said the system formed a waste-management "tiger team," expanded staff education and engaged an external vendor experienced in similar large-system corrections.
Paul Lorenz and Chief McBess told the committee the vendor has begun on-site audits and will help build a standardized waste-management program. County Executive James Williams said the district attorney’s office began reviewing concerns in November 2023 but the county system did not receive the DA’s findings until November 2024; Williams praised the health system’s rapid corrective action once it received actionable information.
Public commenters raised concerns about criminal intent and data privacy; one speaker called the practices a "cover up." Williams clarified to the committee that the DA’s review was a civil investigation initiated by the district attorney’s office and that the county is not aware of allegations of criminal conduct.
Committee members voted to receive the report and to request quarterly updates on corrective measures and audit progress; the motion passed unanimously on the record.
Why it matters: Misclassification and improper disposal of regulated medical waste and patient-identifiable materials pose public-health and privacy risks and may expose the county to regulatory or contractual claims. The system’s corrective plan and external audits are intended to reduce those risks and restore compliance.
What’s next: County staff will provide quarterly updates to the committee and continue audits, staff training, receptacle standardization and inventory control.
