A Steelton family doctor made her case Tuesday to have her medical license reinstated. Dr. Maryjo Szada’s license was suspended in April after state investigators found she wasn’t following CDC standards for sterilizing medical instruments. The state also found that she wasn’t keeping adequate patient records.
Back in April the state suspended her license after investigators found seven speculums in a sink, which are used for gynecological exams. Documents show she was not using proper sterilization techniques. On the stand she admitted to using Lysol Spray to sterilize instruments because it is "99.9% germicidal," Szada said.
Dr. Szada said during the hearing that the past six months have been humiliating. She said she is ready to move on, starting with getting her medical license back.
Dr. Szada testified before a hearing examiner who gathered information as to how she is fulfilling the conditions set by the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine in order for the board to consider reinstating her license. "She and her attorney made the case that they had in their view met the requirements for that reinstatement," said Ron Ruman, Press Secretary for the Department of State.
"The jobs of the boards, the jobs of the investigators, the jobs of us at the Department of State is to protect the public health and safety," said Ruman.
Dr. Szada showed the examiner that she has undergone inspections, and received hours of training on proper infection control and record-keeping. She said some of the mishaps were because of a rogue employee, but took responsibility for a lack of oversight. She said in the future she plans to practice alone, but continue in Steelton. She said she has strict measures in place for when she gets her license back, including using disposable speculums, and a system for record-keeping. She also said the medical consulting firm that trained her, will monitor and inspect her progress quarterly.
"I have been a 15-year patient of Dr. Szada, and I have found her to be competent, professional , compassionate," said Clare Jones, who attended the hearing. She plans to go back to Dr. Szada if she gets her license back. "I will be happy to go back to her practice when it's open again. And I know I will get high-quality medical care," said Jones.
The hearing examiner said it's likely she will submit a report with her recommendations to the medical board before the December 2, 2014 meeting. The board will then make the final decision.
If her license is reinstated, Dr. Szada will be on probation for two years. She will be subject to random inspections, monitoring and have to submit quarterly reports.
