dagblog - Comments for "My Mom passed away this morning"

I'm sorry for your loss. As

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 23:32:59 +0000

In reply to My Mom passed away this morning

I'm sorry for your loss. As you said, C difficile and other hospital acquired infections are highly preventable and extremely unfortunate.

As a previously healthy 23 year old victim of C difficile who battled against this nasty bacteria for 6 months following antibiotic treatment for a dental infection, I can understand the frustration you face. Although the increased rates of C difficile in North America can be attributed to a new and more virulent and highly resistant strain, it is evident that infection control in some areas is underfunded. This along with the fact that many hospitals have outsourced their janitorial services, has resulted in increased and record high rates of nosocomial infections. It is reported that Ontario has out-sourced approximately one third of their hospitals janitorial services and in British Columbia, the number is much higher. Interestingly, the spike in C difficle infections correlates with the privatization of the cleaning services and I have read several testimonials of health care workers and janitorial staff who claim they have less materials to work with and more space to cover. As a citizen who pays taxes, and as a victim, it angers me that a poor decision made by someone, probably based on cost-savings, to outsource an essential service may have resulted in lengthy life-threatning infections and many deaths that affects us all.

There are forces at work in

rmrd0000 — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 05:31:13 +0000

In reply to My Mom passed away this morning

There are forces at work in the medical system to effect change. Dr Mark Makary, a pancreatic transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins, has written “Unaccountable: What Hospitals Won’t Tell You and How Transparency can Revolutionize Health Care”. Makary notes that approximately 30% of medical procedures are unnecessary. Publication of procedure rates and complication rates result in decreases in procedure rates without an adverse effect on patient outcomes. Some hospitals are publishing their outcomes already.

Physicians are being reimbursed based on volume rather than quality. This has to change. Obama care has provisions that require reporting of quality outcomes to receive full reimbursement. These are baby steps, but some progress is happening.

Unfortunately, this did not help your mother. Again, you have my deepest sympathy.

Yes I will and already do.

cmaukonen — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 04:49:52 +0000

In reply to Such sad news and just before

Yes I will and already do.

Thanks momoe.

Well I sincerely hope so but

cmaukonen — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 03:28:36 +0000

In reply to Oh Chris, what sad news. You

Well I sincerely hope so but I ain't holden my breath.

I do intend to keep bringing this issue up however. Especially when ever any new information come out. Though I am sure the Hospital Association and the AMA would prefer it didn't.

Oh Chris, what sad news. You

erica20 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 17:45:10 +0000

In reply to My Mom passed away this morning

Oh Chris, what sad news. You and yours have all my sympathy.

When this issue has been studied, hospital after hospital has discovered that vigilant handwashing solves many of these problems. (Surprise!) It's not rocket science. So sad.

Thinking of you at this difficult time.

When you recover from the shock and sadness, there is work to be done on this issue. I suppose the good news is that as the "boomers" continue to age and realize that each hospital visit is a game of infection roulette, hospitals will get more serious about infection control and antibiotic conservation.

Such sad news and just before

trkingmomoe — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 13:00:40 +0000

In reply to My Mom passed away this morning

Such sad news and just before Christmas. I am so sorry. I know you will miss her.

This is a terrible story. I

anna am — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 04:22:36 +0000

In reply to My Mom passed away this morning

This is a terrible story. I am so very sorry for you.

Oh, Chris! I am so sorry-and

jollyroger — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 02:48:50 +0000

In reply to My Mom passed away this morning

Oh, Chris! I am so sorry-and so angry- at this news. I missed this thread until I got the chat room email. Couldn't log in there ( and will seek guidance momentarily from LisB, chatroom guru) but I did not want this news to go unremarked. C.Diff has become a monster. It is so susceptible of prevention yet so ubiquitous! That your mother was an RN and still fell victim is blood chilling in its implications. I am so sad for you and your family...

A corrupt and uncaring health

Orion — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:01:35 +0000

In reply to My Mom passed away this morning

A corrupt and uncaring health care system that is the very epitome of this corrupt and uncaring country. !

And the hospitals say nothing about this. Not one word. They do not tell you "Hey...you have a 1 in 17 chance of getting sicker here. And it could just kill you." The media will not touch it but it needs toi be shouted from the roof tops.

The thing here is that these people have no sense of responsibility. If responsibility is ever mentioned, it's a projection on to the patient.

Perhaps if hospitals were more regulated and accountable to the public, we would have better results. Maybe. There is something seriously wrong right now - it's as if this isn't even being discussed very much. I was surprised to see this post here. It may be that people don't really talk about this until it's too late.

My deepest sympathies for

William K. Wolfrum — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:10:47 +0000

In reply to My Mom passed away this morning

My deepest sympathies for your loss.