“Doc, have you washed your hands?”
Did you ever think you would have to ask this--- to a doctor?
Yes, you read right--- a doctor.
According to a Washington Post article, "Studies: Hospitals Could Do More to Avoid Infections," independent studies have found that hospital-acquired infections "arise mainly from poor hygiene in hospital procedures, not from how sick patients were when they were admitted." Can you imagine this? Hospitals are supposed to be the most sanitary place around, yet it seems this is not the case (for some hospitals--- not all). And it seems the number of hospital-acquired infections is rising. According to the data revealed by the state of Pennsylvania, there were over 19,000 patients who acquired infections during their hospital stay (up from over 11,500 two years ago).
And the thing is, "previous studies have shown that patients with hospital-acquired infections spend many more days in the hospital, undergo more extensive procedures and are more likely to die than patients who do not contract them."
This is a travesty. You go to the hospital to get better--- not worse. People should not be dying because of an infection they get in the hospital.
Yes, you read right--- a doctor.
According to a Washington Post article, "Studies: Hospitals Could Do More to Avoid Infections," independent studies have found that hospital-acquired infections "arise mainly from poor hygiene in hospital procedures, not from how sick patients were when they were admitted." Can you imagine this? Hospitals are supposed to be the most sanitary place around, yet it seems this is not the case (for some hospitals--- not all). And it seems the number of hospital-acquired infections is rising. According to the data revealed by the state of Pennsylvania, there were over 19,000 patients who acquired infections during their hospital stay (up from over 11,500 two years ago).
And the thing is, "previous studies have shown that patients with hospital-acquired infections spend many more days in the hospital, undergo more extensive procedures and are more likely to die than patients who do not contract them."
This is a travesty. You go to the hospital to get better--- not worse. People should not be dying because of an infection they get in the hospital.
posted by CareTALKGals(tm) at 11/20/2006 10:45:00 PM
2 Comments:
The article in the Washington Post addressed the tip of the iceberg when it addressed the failure of medical practicioners to comply with their own protocols respecting the health of patients and the proliferation of infections in hospitals.
I spent nearly an entire year in 1998 in a hospital that I believe caused me to undergo three major surgeries to debried multiple antibiotic resistent infections and a bone infection, all derived following my two surgeries.
While a patient, I had to actually scratch out a letter to the hospital administrator because of the substandard cleaning of my hospital room by a staff member and although she was removed from the ward, I encountered her angry coworkers who felt I'd "dimed her out." Since I had nearly died of multiple resistent infections while in the hospital, unrelated to my original health issues, I took great exception to their attitudes and suggested they be more concerned regarding their compliance with proper health procedures rather than my attempt to protect myself from an incompetent person.
They failed to heed my initial cries for help - they had no reason to criticize me when their incompetent colleague was removed from the ward for cause.
Five years later I was readmitted into the same hospital only this time, I coordinated in advance with the Hospital Infectious Disease (ID) Office to establish certain rules for my protection while in their hospital.
Two months of hospitalization this time failed to generate a single infection in my body. Obviously, I'd learned the hard way the first time but took precautionary measures for my second visit that successfully protected me.
I've always assumed medical practicioners were dedicated to the interests of their patients, but I don't think that any longer based upon my life threatening experiences and the laissez-faire atittude of hospital personnel who carelessly handle weakened patients with unwashed hands and non-sterile gloves. I witnessed this behavior personally so I know it is true.
Doctors and nurses who fail to wash their hands are violating their own professional standards. When patients have to bring their own sterile gloves for staff personnel, one must wonder why this hospital is even in business. This is what I did several years ago.
The normal excuse by medical personnel that "they are so busy" and "don't have time" doesn't cut it! When people are dying because of this attitude, I call it manslaughter. I won't have them writing on my tombstone that I died because hospital staff were too lazy to wash their hands after using the toilet.
Today, patients must become proactive to protect themselves. They must coordinate w/the Hospital in advance to reduce excess "resident" traffic in rooms and avoid those unwashed hands from transfering bacteria onto patient bodies, clothing or furniture. Student doctors can learn their trade, but not at my expense.
Medical practicioners detest smart patients. They don't appreciate assertive patients who refuse to be mishandled or who criticize sloppy work.
Hospitals are supposed to have effective training and surveillance programs to overcome the ID problem but sadly, from my experiences, many facilities pay lip service to the rules while patients pay the true price with their lives.
Patients must try to insure they don't allow staff to use a blood pressure cuff they just finished using on 10 other patients. Nowadays there are breakaway cuffs that can be individually used for individual patients.
I nearly died because of incidents such as those cited above. In a few other instances, a family member interceded and protected me from the mishandling I would have experienced by a so called "professional," too lazy to wash his or her hands.
Hospitals play with their statistical data to avoid acknowledging the growing number of unnecessarily infected patients in their facilities. Unless the AMA, JACCHO, and medical professionals themselves acknowledge their responsibilities to help protect their patients as opposed to infecting them, more will be sickened and die due to this growing malfeasance
It isn't a matter of merely blaming the patients for "misuse or excess use of antibiotics," or that "hospitals are havens for infection."
Practicioners must comply with their own professional standards and decide whether the lives of their patients are worth the time it takes to wash their hands.
In the 21st Century, no medical practicioner in America has any excuse to touch a patient at any time with unwashed hands. If they do, in my view, they ought to be fired and decertified.
I now live with lifelong permanent disabilities and multiple medical issues, all caused initially by infections I believe were avoidable.
I can't change my past, but I can better control my future.
You can also!
Situations like those described above must be addressed by the healthcare industry. Fortunately, many hospitals are actively working to continuously improve the state of care in our nation.
I encourage readers to visit the following link
http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Programs/Campaign/Campaign.htm
to learn about the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's campaign to save 100,000 lives (they've already surpassed their goal) by addressing 6 key areas of hospital care, one of which is surgical site infections.
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