Safe Healthcare Blog
Compendium 2022 Update: Strategies for Healthcare-associated Infection Prevention
Updated recommendations on how to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), as well as ventilator-associated pneumonia, ventilator-associated events (VAEs), and non-ventilator healthcare-associated pneumonia (NV-HAP) were recently published. These changes come at a time when the need to strengthen infection prevention programs and help hospitals rebuild and support healthcare systems is urgent. These two guidance documents Read More >
Posted on by 16 CommentsClean Hands May Have Saved My Son’s Life
As both a mom and preschool teacher, I have said “wash your hands” more times than I can imagine. Before my newborn son died in a hospital, I never imagined I needed to say it to a doctor. But if all healthcare personnel always used proper hand hygiene in my son’s care, sepsis may not Read More >
Posted on by 4 CommentsMedication Safety for Parents & Caregivers
When our children don’t feel well, we parents will look to just about anything to bring them comfort. Many times, this means reaching for medication to ease their symptoms. As a pediatrician, I know the safest place to store medicine in between uses is in a location up and away. But as a mom, I’ve Read More >
Posted on byFinding My Voice as a C. diff Patient
At the age of 31, I knew nothing of patient advocacy; having a voice for my own healthcare simply hadn’t crossed my mind. I’ve since learned that it is essential to include patient voices in the healthcare system. When I was prescribed a preventive antibiotic for a root canal I, like most Americans, thought nothing Read More >
Posted on by 6 CommentsPatient Safety Representatives Unite to Implement Global Patient Safety Action Plan in the United States
Preventable harm in the healthcare system is an urgent public health challenge, internationally and in the United States. Globally, more people die now from medical errors or other breakdowns in the quality and safety of healthcare services than from lack of access to them. (1) Researchers estimate that medication errors, preventable infections, venous thromboembolism, falls, Read More >
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