GLOVERSVILLE, NY (02/24/2009)(readMedia)--

Nurse Practitioner Melissa Bown, N.P.-C. at Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home wants people to get nosey about their hospital's infection control measures. While the flu and pneumonia season is upon us until April, Ms. Bown reminds us that now is a great time to inquire about your hospital's infection control measures, especially if you are scheduled to have a procedure, test or just for your own peace of mind.

After almost a decade of infection surveillance for Nathan Littauer Hospital, a rural community hospital in Upstate New York and also serving as the 2008 President of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control, Northeastern Chapter, Ms. Bown knows a lot about "hospital cooties." Ms. Bown encourages every patient to be informed explaining, "Infection control is an extremely critical factor in your road to recovery". She adds, "Get comfortable asking questions of your local hospital." She also recommends conducting your own research ahead of time, before a surgery or emergency. "I know it sounds cliché, but knowledge is power". Ms. Bown notes, "No question is out-of-bounds. Asking about infection rates and universal precautions is not only smart; it is expected in highly-evolved medical settings." Ms. Bown states, "We are seeing a more informed patient, and it seems infection prevention is now on the forefront of everyone's mind."

Ask the tough questions.

But how do you even know what questions to ask? Ms. Bown suggests simple observation can be your best weapon. "There will be clear indications of infection control measures, if you start looking at your hospital with a trained eye." In her vast experience, Ms. Bown has created a quick guide for people to use. By no means exhaustive, the guide is meant to spur dialogue and to help the consumer feel empowered. Try asking or looking for the following:

Ask:

1. How is direct care staff trained on standard precautions? And how often? Look for a hospital with a live and interactive training regimen. At Nathan Littauer Hospital, everyone, from the nurses to the marketing team to the information technology staff must attend yearly trainings, which are live and interactive. No one is excused.

2. What is your infection rate? Every hospital tracks their infection rates. In New York, patients can visit www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/hospital/reports/hospital-acquired-infections/. Each state develops their own reporting mechanism. Check your state's health department website.

3. Does the hospital have an infection prevention practitioner on staff? Do they have an organism surveillance program? These programs and their staff track, monitor and document every infectious organism in the hospital. Hospitals should also track antibiotic drug resistance and high-risk devices, such ventilators. If someone is not tracking organisms at your hospital then infection control is simply not possible. At any time, Ms. Bown knows every micro-organism in the hospital by monitoring all positive culture reports.

4. What percentage of the staff gets the flu vaccine at your hospital? Look for percentages in the 50th percentile or above. A person- or a caregiver- can be contagious two days prior to even showing flu symptoms. A hospital's best defense? Good vaccination rates.

5. Does the hospital offer inpatients influenza/pneumoccal vaccines to their patients? Sure, you may get your flu shot, but what if your new roomie hasn't? It is a well known fact that flu strains can change from year to year. Nathan Littauer Hospital offers every patient a flu shot. It is mandatory for most hospitals to give the vaccine to people who are 65 years or older.

6. What is the procedure for room cleaning? How often do you clean high touch surfaces? (Bed trays, railings, TV remotes etc.) Upon discharge? Expect thorough room cleanings upon every patient discharge to ensure your clean admission. Look for daily cleanings, especially on those high touch surfaces. Also, look for sanitation strips or cards stating a cleaning crew was there. Under Ms. Bown's direction, her hospital completes a meticulous room cleaning at least once a day. To make the patients more comfortable, they try to clean when a patient leaves for testing or therapy, leaving behind a card of their cleaning endeavors on the bed stand.

7. What is the hospital doing about drug-resistant organisms like MRSA? Hospitals are given guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Association for Professionals in Infection Control regarding patient placement for patients who are infected with multi-resistant organisms to prevent the spread. Make sure your hospital implements these guidelines.

8. If you are having surgery, does your hospital implement the SCIP (Surgical Care Improvement Project) Measures? SCIP measures encourage proper use, discontinuation and timing of antibiotics to prevent infection in surgical patients. SCIP measures can prevent someone from developing a surgical site infection. For over five years, Nathan Littauer Hospital has been in the 95th - 100th percentile in their SCIP compliance measures.

Observe:

9. Look for plentiful and convenient hand sanitizing stations. Ms. Bown suggests looking for hand sanitizing stations on your next hospital visit. Are they plentiful? Are they full? Are they conveniently located for staff, patients and visitors to use? Look for them everywhere: near the elevators, in the waiting rooms, in the cafeteria and in patient rooms. Nathan Littauer Hospital, a 74 bed hospital, has 330 hand sanitizers.

10. Does the hospital clean shared medical equipment between each use? (Blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, oxygen monitors and EKG leads). At Nathan Littauer Hospital, antiseptic wipes travel with most of the equipment making a quick swab effortless.

"Doctor, wash your hands, please"

Perhaps the simplest thing you and your family can do to prevent infection is to make sure that everyone who touches you, including your doctor, washes their hands first. Good hand washing is critical to reducing infection. While it may be uncomfortable at first, remind everyone to wash their hands before approaching you. If need be, have a family member ask for you. Role play how you will remind your caregivers to wash their hands. Ms. Bown suggestion? "The easiest approach is to ask a quick question, 'Can you please wash your hands first?' And do not apologize." states Ms. Bown. She notes that true professionals will not flinch at the request.

While it is a subject matter that few enjoy, containing infection is critical to your rehabilitation. We all want to believe that every measure has been taken to protect you from infection. But hope is not enough. Ask the tough questions. "People do not bat an eye when we are asked to put our seatbelts on in an airplane. Good infection control is really no different than that- a safety measure, which could ultimately save your life."

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Nathan Littauer Hospital is a 74- bed facility located in Upstate New York. The hospital has been given high marks in infection control, earning a zero I.C.U. central line infection rate for five years running. The Hospital prides itself on implementing a demanding infection control program, delivering 12 programs a year in infection control to its 930 employees.

Posted Tuesday February 24, 2009 at 12:55 pm by Nathan Littauer Hospital