A new study of four cases of MRSA infection in patients who had undergone face lift surgery warns that MRSA-positive surgical site infection "is an increasingly problematic issue in all surgical fields." The study's authors also noted that MRSA-positive infections "will be more prevalent and will require well-developed screening, prevention, and treatment strategies" in the future. MRSA is currently the leading causative pathogen in surgical site infections, as well as in skin and soft tissue infections, the study said.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has launched a new Web resource that allows users to learn, share, and adopt innovations in the delivery of health services. The resource, called the Health Care Innovations Exchange, is designed as a tool for healthcare leaders, physicians, nurses, and other health professionals who seek to reduce healthcare disparities and improve healthcare overall. The Web site is being launched with 100 examples of innovations in the delivery of healthcare services and attempts at innovation.
If we look to EHRs to address existing gaps in quality of care, it is important to provide primary care physicians in small practices with the necessary financial support and training in quality improvement so that they can successfully make the transition to EHRs, says this column at MedPageToday.com. Electronic health records are an integral part of virtually every ongoing quality improvement initiative, at both the health system and individual practitioner level, notes columnist David B. Nash, MD.
A new study finds that patients prefer to challenge nurses rather than doctors about safety issues related to their care, and women are far more prepared to speak up than men. The findings are based on a survey assessing the factors influencing patients' willingness to ask healthcare professionals questions related to safety. The results showed that patients were far more likely to ask factual questions of all healthcare professionals than they were to pose questions that might be perceived as challenging clinical abilities.
Investigators in the Netherlands have trialed methods used by forensic scientists at crime scenes to highlight infection risks in their hospital. Researchers used Luminol, a chemical used by crime scene investigators, to detect traces of blood in their haemodialysis unit. Luminol reacts with microscopic amounts of blood to produce bright blue luminescence to allow investigators to track invisible blood splashes in the environment The group of researchers suggests that Luminol could be used as part of a hospital infection control regimen, in order to highlight risks associated with the contamination of the hospital environment with blood.
The Alabama Certificate of Need Review Board has rejected a bid by a group of Baldwin County doctors and a subsidiary of Pensacola's Sacred Heart Health System to build a $9.4 million outpatient surgery facility. Supporters of the project had figured the project would go forward after an administrative law judge issued a 120-page ruling in favor of Pleasure Island Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC's proposal. Instead, the board sided with Mobile's Infirmary Health Systems and Foley's South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, which fought to keep their competitor out of the market.
Florida House and Senate budget negotiators pulled $300 million from state reserves to erase planned cuts for a pair of health programs serving 40,000 critically ill and elderly Floridians. The cash infusion keeps alive the state's Medically Needy program and Medicaid Aged and Disabled coverage—which had been among about $1 billion in proposed cuts to health and human service programs.
A bill being considered by the Florida Senate would require pricing information from hospitals for 150 of the most commonly performed medical procedures to be posted on a state website. Supporters of the proposal say it is a step towards creating greater transparency in the healthcare industry, which may help rein in runaway costs and improve quality. In addition, supporters say it would build on an overall effort to arm consumers with more information when making healthcare choices.
President Bush has presented heart surgeon Michael DeBakey with a Congressional Gold Medal. Houston-based DeBakey pioneered such procedures as heart bypass and has invented medical devices to help heart patients. He's also developed the idea of battlefield mobile surgical hospitals known as MASH units.
Several hospitals across the nation have instituted policies banning smoking anywhere on their properties, although enforcing these policies is easier said than done. Inspectors who certify hospitals may take an interest, however: The Joint Commission says hospitals at a minimum cannot allow smoking in buildings. Beyond that, hospitals must follow the extra smoking rules they set up, and too many violations can jeopardize government funding.
