Category: Patient Stories and Patient Safety

Denise Cardo, MD, retires after 30 years dedicated to patient safety

Dr. Denise Cardo

As part of Public Health Thank You Day, celebrated every year on the Monday before Thanksgiving, we’d like to honor Denise Cardo, MD, who recently retired from public service after 30 years dedicated to patient safety. Denise leaves a legacy of protecting the United States and the globe from some of our most challenging and Read More >

Posted on by Katy Capers, MA, & Kendra Driver, PhD3 CommentsTags

I Want My Sepsis Experience to Help Save Lives

Katy Grainger, Sepsis Alliance Board of Directors

In 2018, I got a small infection on my thumb that looked unusual, so I visited an emergency room. All my vital signs were strong at the time, and there was no indication that the infection had progressed or that my body had developed sepsis. Over the next 36 hours, I developed several of the Read More >

Posted on by Katy Grainger, Sepsis Survivor, double amputee, patient advocate and member of Sepsis Alliance Board of Directors13 CommentsTags , , ,

One Pill Can Kill

Our daughter, Maisie, died after ingesting a methadone pill at a neighbor’s house that was on the floor. Six adults, three of them doctors, were with her the entire evening. Still, the small white pill found her hand, and then, as a nine-month-old baby would do, found her mouth. After putting Maisie to bed during Read More >

Posted on by Adam and MaryBeth Gillan, Maisie’s parents1 CommentTags

HICPAC invites your comments on revised isolation precautions guideline this fall

African American female healthcare worker dons a face mask as she approaches a healthcare facility

CDC’s evidence-based guidelines for health care are designed to protect healthcare workers and patients, encourage safe practices, improve health outcomes, and save lives. They are not regulations, but many regulatory bodies consider this advice when they create the rules that lead to penalties and payments for healthcare facilities. We have learned a lot about how Read More >

Posted on by Mike Bell, MD, and Alex Kallen, MD, MPH55 CommentsTags , ,

A Superbug Stalked My Daughter and Stole Her Life. Phage Therapy Could Have Saved Her

Image of woman

This blog is a part of a series that CDC launched to highlight the importance of patient safety by providing educational information and simple ways to help people stay informed on patient safety topics. Read the blog below authored by Diane Shader Smith, to learn more about antimicrobial resistance and the importance of investing in Read More >

Posted on by Diane Shader Smith3 CommentsTags , ,