Infections in the large-bore tubes that keep patients in intensive care units alive are often lethal but readily preventable. A simple checklist of sanitary practices was proven to cut the rate of these “central line infections” to nearly zero. But that was in one chain of hospitals in Michigan. What about the rest of the….
Continue ReadingInfections
Another Good Clue that Your Hospital Takes Infection Prevention Seriously — Chlorhexidine
Memorize the name of this antiseptic wash and make sure your hospital uses it: chlorhexidine. Research continues to pile up that diligent but inexpensive efforts by hospital staff can greatly cut the annual toll of an estimated 100,000 lives lost to hospital infections. The latest simple step involves greater use of the antiseptic chlorhexidine to….
Continue ReadingFighting Hospital Infections: When Less is More
The deadly MRSA infection, estimated to kill 19,000 Americans every year (more than the toll from AIDS), has been virtually wiped out in Norway, with three simple steps: As described in a recent Associated Press article: Norway’s model is surprisingly straightforward. — Norwegian doctors prescribe fewer antibiotics than any other country, so people do not….
Continue ReadingInfection Control: A Hospital Executive Speaks Out
The CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston is speaking out about his hospital’s efforts to prevent deadly infections. The question is: How come few other hospital executives are talking about their efforts? Are they not making vigorous efforts? Or are they obsessed with secrecy, as so many in the medical industry are?….
Continue ReadingSaving Lives — and Money Too — With Patient Safety Reform
A new report from Public Citizen proposes 10 cost-cutting, patient safety measures that would save an estimated 85,000 lives and $35 billion a year. The report, “Back to Basics,” analyzed the results of scientific studies of treatment protocols for chronically recurring, avoidable medical errors. In contrast to the high-tech tests and procedures that many experts….
Continue ReadingBroken Alarms and False Alarms in Medical Testing — the Swine Flu Problem
Swine flu testing is the latest example of an important issue for informed patients. Patients need to understand that some medical tests are valuable if there is a “positive” finding, but not much good at all if they are “negative.” The problem is that the test is “insensitive,” which means a negative result can miss….
Continue ReadingHow Can We Reduce Hospital Infections?
Several letters to the editor in the New York Times have good thoughts on the critical topic of reducing hospital-acquired infections. It’s important not just to exhort hospital administrators to try harder, but to set up incentives that reward safety and punish harm. One incentive not discussed in these letters is a national mandatory disclosure….
Continue ReadingThousands Exposed to Hep-C by Rogue Surgery Tech
The news from Colorado that a drug-addicted surgery technician had exposed thousands of patients to the Hepatitis-C virus raises questions about the institutions’ procedures for protecting patients. According to news accounts, the surgery tech, Kristen Parker, swapped her dirty syringes, filled with saline, for clean ones filled with Fentanyl, in operating rooms at Rose Medical….
Continue ReadingIs Our Health Care System Safer Today than 10 Years Ago?
A new report from Consumers Union says too many patients are still dying every year from needless errors. The report makes a number of proposals for how reforms could be instituted to improve patient safety. A starting point will be to change the health reform debate in Washington from one of just access and money….
Continue ReadingPistachio May Be Linked to Salmonella Contamination
Salmonella, which causes serious gastrointestinal illnesses that can be life-threatening, was found in pistachios last week, according to the Los Angeles Times. The FDA has issued warnings for consumers to stop eating all foods containing pistachios, while investigations are underway. Although salmonella contamination in pistachios is yet to be confirmed, Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella….
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