Emails show discussion about notifying patients of abnormal test results

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Channel 9 obtained new emails to and from Mecklenburg County officials and the health department after it failed to notify 185 patients about abnormal Pap smears.

An email suggests health officials were still trying to figure out how they were going to notify the patients nearly a month after they first learned about the issue.

Public health clinic workers knew on Dec. 12 but didn't tell the county health director or county manager until Jan. 4.

As staff members worked on scripts for conversations with patients over the phone, County Health Director Dr. Marcus Plescia urged them to be more transparent and address the mistake.

“Studies and expert recommendations on medical errors suggest that it is important to state that an error has been made and explain what is being done to compensate for it," Plescia said in a Jan. 11 email.

County Commissioner Dumont Clarke emailed County Manager Dena Diorio and other commissioners addressing conflicting information after news of the failed notifications went public.

“It is difficult, however, to know what steps the Board of County Commissioners should be taking as we exercise our oversight responsibility as the Board of Health when we don't all have the same information," Clarke said in an email.

Several emails were between Plescia and two companies he was working with to help hire additional staff to clear the backlog.

One of the contracts didn't go through until Feb. 1, while conversations started in mid-January,

In an email from Jan. 27, Plescia tried to speed up the process.

“I understand they tied up the contract negotiation with Locum Company on Tuesday so I’m not sure why it is not completely approved by now. Anything you can do to speed up the process?” Plescia said.

The health department has hired an additional medical assistant to monitor follow-ups.

There are now only two women out of 185 that the county health department still needs to find to notify about abnormal Pap smear results.

State investigators will be in Charlotte on Tuesday to begin a state review.

Cox Media Group