Who did the investigation?

• The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners  and the Food and Drug Administration Office Criminal Investigation conducted this investigation.
• The health district has not identified any cases of disease associated with the infection control breach found during the investigation.

What has happened to Dr. Kaplan?

• The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners has suspended Dr. Kaplan’s medical license indefinitely. He is unable to practice.

I was a patient, do I need to get tested?

• The health district is recommending that patients who had a prostate biopsy or a procedure to insert a Visicoil™ implantable marker, or gold seed radiation implant between December 20, 2010 and March 11, 2011 at the doctor’s Sunset Way office in Henderson be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
• Patients should contact their personal physicians or health care providers to review their medical history for previous infection and to arrange for testing.
• Dr. Kaplan’s patients who are concerned about their health should contact their health care providers.

What did the physician or health care worker do that put patients at risk for exposure?

• The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners and the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation found that the physician re-used endocavity needle guides. The guides are a single-use-only medical device and are not to be reused.
• Staff attempted to clean and disinfect the needle guides prior to reusing them, but they are not designed or intended to be reused.
• The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners suspended Dr. Kaplan’s medical license indefinitely and he is no longer allowed to practice.

Is the problem still going on?

• The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners suspended Dr. Kaplan’s medical license and he is no longer practicing.

Where should I go to get tested? Is the health district testing people?

• Your primary care physician or health care provider would need to order testing for you at area labs. The health district has provided specific testing recommendations and information to health care providers. The information is available on the health district’s technical bulletin entitled “Investigation into Infection Control Breach at Physician’s Office, Henderson, NV.” PDF
• The Southern Nevada Health District is not testing patients.

I was a patient of Dr. Kaplan’s and had a procedure before December 20, 2010. Do I need to get tested?

• The investigation by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners found the infection control breach in procedures performed between December 20, 2010 and March 11, 2011. There has not been an identified infection control breach prior to that date, however, patients should contact their primary care physicians with any questions or concerns they have.
• The investigation by the Nevada State Medical Board found that Dr. Kaplan’s office began using these specific endocavity needle guides on December 20 and used them until March 11. If new information reveals the single-use-only medical devices were reused prior to Dec. 20, the health district’s patient notification will be expanded.

Are you sending letters to patients at the other office(s)?

• The Southern Nevada Health District is sending notification letters to Dr. Kaplan’s patients who were identified through the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners’ investigation as having received Visicoil™ implantable markers, gold seed radiation implants, or a prostate biopsy between Dec. 20, 2010 and March 11, 2011 at the doctor’s Sunset Way office in Henderson.
• Currently, there is no recommendation for patients at Dr. Kaplan’s other locations to be tested, however, if patients have questions about whether they should be tested, it is recommended they contact their primary care physician.
• The health district is recommending testing for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV.
• At this time, the health district is not recommending testing of patients who had other procedures, however, testing recommendations could change as the investigation continues.
• Patients who are concerned about their health should contact their primary care physicians.

How high is the risk that I’ve been infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV from this office?

• The risk of contracting disease is believed to be very low and this is based on similar incidents in other states. However, as a precaution, the health district is recommending testing for patients who had a prostate biopsy, or procedures for Visicoil™ implantable markers or gold seed radiation implants at the Sunset Way office in Henderson.

Where or how can I get my medical records?

• Patients can obtain their medical records from Dr. Kaplan’s office, which is open to assist patients access their records.

Who is paying for the testing?

• Patients should check with their medical insurance providers, Medicare or Medicaid.

I was at that clinic and didn’t get my letter. What am I supposed to do?

• If you were a patient of Dr. Kaplan’s and received a prostate biopsy, or a procedure to insert a Visicoil™ implantable marker or gold seed radiation implant between Dec. 20 2010 and March 11, 2011, contact your primary care doctor to discuss your health history and recommendations to be tested.
• It is important to remember that the Southern Nevada Health District is sending patient notification letters to patients identified through the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners’ investigation who received Visicoil™ implantable markers, gold see radiation implants, or prostate biopsy between Dec. 20, 2010 and March 11, 2011.

I am a doctor and have a patient in my office with your letter. Which tests should I order?

• Information on the testing process, including the recommended tests to order and their interpretation is available in a technical bulletin distributed by the health district via the Health Alert Network entitled “Investigation into Infection Control Breach at Physician’s Office, Henderson, NV.” PDF
• It is also available by fax on demand at (702) 759-1499, document #90803.

Hepatitis & HIV Information

Where can I get more information about HIV?

• The Southern Nevada Health District website under HIV/AIDS Prevention
• CDC’s website www.cdc.gov/hiv/
• Contact the health district’s Sexual Health Clinic for HIV Testing (702) 759-0702.
• Ask your doctor

Where can I get more information about Hepatitis?

• Hepatitis C
  • The health district’s Hepatitis C webpage
  • Center for Disease Control website www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/C/index.htm
  • Ask your doctor
• Hepatitis B
  • The health district’s Hepatitis B webpage
  • Center for Disease Control website www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/B/index.htm
  • Ask your doctor
• Hepatitis A
  • The health district’s Hepatits A webpage
  • Center for Disease Control website www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/A/index.htm
  • Ask your doctor

I have no insurance/I am underinsured.

• If you are uninsured or underinsured, you can contact the AccessHealth program to find patient resources that are available for healthcare assistance. AccessHealth is located at 2801 S. Valley View, Blvd. Ste. 12 in Las Vegas and the telephone number is (702) 430-3580.