Patients get tested after notified of potential hepatitis C exposure in Puyallup

Some patients went in for testing Tuesday after they were notified they may have been exposed to hepatitis C at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup.

Hospital officials say 2,600 people are at risk because an emergency room nurse with hepatitis C stole and injected drugs and then may have used the same needles on patients. Officials say she is known to have infected at least two people so far.

“It is frustrating, a little bit scary,” Erin Sataloff said.

Though Sataloff tends to look for the positive in life's antics, she's now in the middle of a nerve-wracking waiting game. She wonders if the hospital visit where she took selfies last December may have led to exposure to hepatitis C.

“I'm able to take it all in stride but when I go home at night, it does stop me from sleeping a little bit,” Sataloff explained.

In addition to hepatitis C, she was also tested for hepatitis B and HIV as a precaution at Good Samaritan.

“When I got tested this morning, they were able to tell me if I was treated by the nurse. Which, thankfully, I was not,” Sataloff said.

“This event should not have happened in any of our facilities,” said Chris Bredeson, the hospital’s chief operating officer.

Sataloff was told the results could take days to come back.

Hep C can lead to serious liver damage. There is medicine available to cure the infection.

“So there's a lot on my mind and I think it's more about getting answers and having support from the hospital knowing they will do all they can do to make situation correct,” Sataloff added.

Sataloff is an Army veteran who has survived thyroid cancer. She has other health issues and was wearing an Aircast boot on her foot when KIRO 7 met her.

She's concerned -- after all, Sataloff does have a family to consider -- but she also has compassion for the nurse.

“As a nurse, your patients should be your priority, but eventually drugs became her priority and to me that is really sad more than it is frustrating,” Sataloff said. “And I hope she gets help.”

The nurse no longer works at the hospital and is now under criminal investigation.

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