Here are five takeaways:
1. The hospitals sent warning letters two weeks ago to more than 1,300 patients who underwent surgery in late 2011 and 2012.
2. Rocky Allen, the surgical technician, was charged with stealing a syringe of the painkiller fentanyl in January and replacing it with another substance. He later tested positive for fentanyl and marijuana.
3. Mr. Allen’s actions put nearly 3,000 patients at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colo., at potential risk from needle swapping and raised concerns about his actions at previous jobs.
4. Mr. Allen has also been accused of diverting drugs at hospitals in California and Arizona and tested positive for a blood pathogen, raising potential infection risk.
5. The investigation in Washington included help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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