Hospitals are dangerous places, filled with sick people and germs and the potential for something to go wrong at any times. An estimated 100,000 people a year die in hospitals, from errors, from infections, from accidents.
Here is some advice to keep you safe during your hospital stay
.
If you are going to have elective surgery, don’t schedule it for July or August. That’s when the new students arrive. Although they are closely supervised, mistakes can happen. The fatality rate in teaching hospitals goes up 10% in July
Avoid surgery on the weekend, when hospitals often are thinly staffed. And avoid Friday afternoon, when the staff may be tired.
Speak to your doctor about beginning to take an antibiotic several days before surgery to reduce the risk of infections.
Make sure you have someone who can bring you to the hospital and stay around to talk to doctor and nurses about what’s going on. You will be fearful and distracted, and a family member or friend can be a powerful guardian and ally. And remember that you have the right under federal regulations to get a visit from anyone you choose. Hospitals can no longer limit your visits to spouses or family members. You make the call, deciding on who can visit.
Momma was right when she kept reminding you to wash your hands. Don’t be afraid to ask the same thing of doctors and nurses.
The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths puts this at the top of its list:
“Ask that hospital staff clean their hands before treating you, and ask visitors to clean their hands too. This is the single most important way to protect yourself in the hospital. If you’re worried about being too aggressive, just remember your life could be at stake. All caregivers should clean their hands before treating you. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are more effective at removing most bacteria than soap and water. Do not hesitate to say: “Excuse me, but there’s an alcohol dispenser right there. Would you mind using that before you touch me, so I can see it?” Don’t be falsely assured by gloves. If caregivers have pulled on gloves without cleaning their hands first, the gloves are already contaminated before they touch you.”
A slip and fall in a hospital room can be a disaster. If you need help, call for it. Make sure an aide gives you a pair of special skidproof socks to where when you get out of bed. Up to 30% of falls result in serious injury—and in hospitals, they often occur when you’re en route to the bathroom.
Call for help if you’re unsteady on your feet. And even if you’re not, skidproof socks help on slippery hospital floors. Bring your own or ask an aide for a pair.
Here are some more tips from the Committee:
- Avoid a urinary tract catheter if possible. It is a common cause of infection. The tube allows urine to flow from your bladder out of your body. Sometimes catheters are used when busy hospital staff don’t have time to walk patients to the bathroom. If you have a catheter, ask your caregiver to remove it as soon as possible.
- Beginning three to five days before surgery, shower or bathe daily with chlorhexidine soap. Various brands can be bought without a prescription. It will help remove any dangerous bacteria you may be carrying on your own skin
- Ask your surgeon to have you tested for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at least one week before you come into the hospital. The test is simple, usually just a nasal swab. If you have it, extra precautions can be taken to protect you from infection.
Here is the full list of steps to help you protect yourself:
