Amador County – Sutter Amador Hospital this week temporarily relocated the Sutter Amador Pediatric Center while the hospital conducts a focused environmental assessment on the building after employees expressed concerns about environmental safety issues.

Registered Nurse Nikki Allen, the hospital’s Patient Care Executive, said “employees have had concerns about the environmental safety of the clinic, and we are taking their concerns seriously.” She said employees are aware that the clinic is situated on the second floor of the building just above the hospital’s radiology department.

On March 30, physicists from both the hospital and the Sutter Health system conducted tests in the first floor radiology department and in the second floor pediatric clinic to test radiation levels. Readings were normal and no findings and concerns were noted. However, to ensure that the workplace environment is completely safe, the hospital also has hired an independent health physicist, who is in the process of conducting a complete risk assessment of the entire building. The hospital expects to know results later in the week.

“Our employees have expressed anxiety over these recent health issues, and we want to alleviate their concerns by conducting testing in the outpatient building,” said Allen. “During this process, we have been very sensitive in maintaining confidentiality of our staff members and taking their feelings into consideration while at the same time providing the facts to assure them that they are in a safe environment.”

It is important to note that nationwide, approximately 30 percent of women have nodules detectable by ultrasound, and in fact, the diagnosis of a thyroid nodule is the most common endocrine problem in the United States.

“The cause of most thyroid nodules is not known, but a lack of iodine in the diet and certain genetic factors can cause the development of nodules,” said Dr. Robert Hartmann, a member of the hospital medical staff and Public Health Officer for Amador County.

Hartmann said exposure to radiation increases the probability that a nodule is cancerous, but “Americans are exposed to radiation every day even if they don’t work in a hospital because of the sun, cell phones and microwaves. It also takes decades for this kind of exposure to develop into a thyroid nodule or thyroid cancer. ”

The Sutter Amador Pediatric Center was built in 2007 to strict state standards as a mixed-use building for diagnostic imaging and other outpatient services. This means strict building codes are followed, including lead walls and concrete ceilings between the two floors to ensure a safe environment for staff, physicians and patients.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.