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What to Do?
1. Educate
yourself about how these infections are transmitted and what you
can do to block their transmission. This website is a good place to
start. Others are
www.safecarecampaign.org and
www.hospitalinfection.org. Most caregivers have been thoroughly
trained in infection control practices and work hard to guard you
from risk. However, even the most diligent professionals make
mistakes, especially in emergent situations and while multitasking.
And unfortunately hospital equipment and surfaces are not always as
clean as you might think, as outlined here (link to “other
facts”, page 9 of this text). As a patient or advocate, you should
pay close attention and ask questions.
2. Discuss your
care and concerns with your physician. All surgeries carry risk
of infection and other complications. Review this list of questions
prior to your surgery (take notes):
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What operation are you recommending?
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Why do I need the operation?
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Are there alternatives to surgery?
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What are the benefits of having the operation?
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What are the risks of having the operation?
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What will happen if I don't have this operation?
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Where can I get a second opinion?
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What has been your experience in doing the operation?
How many have you performed?
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Where will the operation be done?
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What kind of anesthesia will I need?
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How long will it take me to recover?
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How much will the operation cost?
3. Take steps to
team with your caregivers to protect yourself. The Empowered
Patient™ Infection Defense Kit offers a range of products
custom-designed and/or carefully selected to help you be part of
your own “health care team”. If you choose not to purchase a kit, at
least educate yourself and BRING HAND SANITIZER (minimum 60 %
alcohol content) to the hospital. Keep it at your bedside and ask
everyone – including visitors – to clean their hands before touching
you. Take the step of cleaning surfaces in your bedside environment
you or others may touch, especially high-touch surfaces like remote
controls and call buttons, bedrails, tray tables, etc. And do not
eat, touch your mouth, eyes or any cut in skin without cleaning your
hands first.
4. Help toughen
laws in your state. As of June 2008, 26 states and the District
of Columbia have passed laws to mandate the public reporting of
hospital infection rates.
Find out if your state is one of
them.
5. Help change
federal law. Here’s a
link to help you send an email to
your congressional representatives:
6. Here are some
places to get information about medical conditions and hospital
quality: (from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ),
under the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
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Healthfinder.gov:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services developed this
Web site for consumers. It provides links to more than 1,500
health-related organizations.
Go to:
http://www.healthfinder.gov
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Hospitalcompare.hhs.gov:
This government Web site provides information on how well
hospitals treat patients who have been admitted for certain
medical conditions.
Go to:
http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov
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Quality Check™.org:
This Web site is a guide to health care organizations and is
sponsored by an organization called the Joint Commission. You can
search by city and state, or by name and ZIP Code (up to 250
miles).
Go to:
http://www.qualitycheck.org/consumer/searchQCR.aspx
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Nonprofit Organizations:
Many nonprofit organizations provide education and support to
patients and their families about certain diseases. They can
direct you to physicians who are experts in treating those
diseases.
7. Share your story via
email
“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you
do nothing there will be no result” –Mahatma Gandhi
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