POCATELLO — Following an investigation into unclean surgical tools, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare found that multiple surgical patients nearly came in contact with tissue fragments left on medical tools.

According to the results from a formal complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, officials conducted an “unannounced on-site complaint investigation” at Portneuf Medical Center from Sept. 2 to 7, 2025.

The incident report states that multiple “deficiencies” were cited during a federal complaint to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, including that Portneuf Medical Center “failed to ensure patients received care in a safe setting for 1 of 6 patients whose medical records were reviewed.”

The complaint discusses incidents involving two pat

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