Sometimes we need to face realities of the seriousness of what we once thought was safe delivery of patient care. We put ourselves at the mercy of healthcare professionals, only to find that we need to be more aware and educated, in order to receive 'quality patient care'

devoted to providing information in order to increase awareness in consumers, as well as health care workers.

Going into the hospital can make you sick !!

 

"Gee, he went in for surgery, caught pneumonia, then died."

"I don’t know what happened. It was simple surgery, but she got an infection in her lungs and was in the hospital for weeks."

"I never expected to get an infection from the hospital. I don’t understand?"

" She came into the hospital for her heart and is having to have her leg amputated."

"No one should get an infection when they go into the hospital, they are there to get better, not worse. What happened?"

These are just some of the statements one can hear in conversations around the country. Actually, I have heard these statements, and, more.

Certainly, most disturbing. However, these patients were the unfortunate ones and caught infections. Some were fortunate enough to improve and return home (with a lengthy recuperation,) while others were not so fortunate. This is reality.

Infections acquired while a patient is in a hospital is a fairly common occurrence. This is called a ‘nosocomial infection’, or now known as ‘health care associated infection’

Does it really matter, what we call an infection a patient receives in the hospital? What does matter is how, do we, as consumers, not acquire an infection when we enter the hospital? Can we control how the nurses and doctors deliver of care and prevent spread of infection? I believe, to some degree, yes, we can.

***He had pneumonia and was in a patient room by himself. A sign posted on the patient room door clearly stated for hospital staff to wear a gown and gloves. More than not, nurses and doctors would enter the room and have either a gown on with no gloves, or have gloves on with no gown. Hence, some nurses did, some did not.

Can, we as consumers/patients ask the nurse or doctor if they should be wearing gloves, masks, etc.? Indeed we can and should if we want to have good infection control techniques maintained by hospital staff.

If consumers are more informed about appropriate infection control practices (by hospital staff/doctor’s office staff/nursing home staff/dentists office, etc) then, consumers will know when to ‘say no’ if they are at the receiving end of inappropriate patient care. This is the only way............be more informed.

Washing hands is they key!!!!! And, it is okay to ask your nurse if she/he washed their hands prior to entering your room.

Infections are devastating not only physically, but emotionally to patients. Families are also affected by a loved one acquiring an infection.

The only way hospitals can have effective infection control procedures in place is to ensure that each and every staff are fully educated and completely understand the negative outcomes when a patient acquires an infection. Negative outcomes, i.e., extensive hospitalization, death, how patients and families are affected psychologically, as well as, of particular concern to hospitals, the cost. Do healthcare workers really understand the aftermath of acquiring an infection in a hospital? Personally, I am not sure they do. There must be close supervision and direct oversight of those providing patient care, in order to ensure that procedures are being implemented according to the hospital’s procedures and policies for infection control.

 

Every patient who is admitted to a hospital is ‘at risk’ of acquiring an infection. Those who are in better health, at less risk. Then there are those who are at higher risk. Therefore, staff should be especially aware of their infection control practices. And, actually, the practices (infection control) should not matter, it should be the same all the time...........

 

Some patients at high risk are those who already have medical conditions, i.e., cancer, heart problems, HIV, diabetes, and, of course the older individual.

The bottom line is hospitals, nursing homes, doctor’s office employees all must play a role in the prevention of infection spread. If hospital employees do not take a serious view of controlling infections, then, we, as consumers have something to be concerned about.

And, speaking of doctor’s office, let me interject here that my guess is most nurses bringing patients to patient rooms, one after another, do not wash their hands between taking blood pressures, etc. This also plays a huge part in acquiring an infection.

There are many reasons that nurses and doctors do not maintain good infection control techniques. Being rush, busy, fleeing from emergency to emergency and just overwhelmed with the everyday tasks can contribute to the spread of infections.

Every staff should keep in the back of their mind.... "How would I want myself or a family member taken care of....?" Maybe this would help, or better yet, maybe every nurse and doctor should be a patient, and, acquire an infection when they entered the hospital for some minor ailment.

Certainly it is okay to ask the person providing care for you, "Can you tell me what you do, to prevent me, or my loved one, from getting an infection?" Next time you are in the hospital, doctor’s office, dentist’s office or any healthcare provider, ask the question