Not too long ago, in my role as a health project manager, I became interested in the concept of promoting family involvement to assure better MRSA hygiene practices. I became convinced family members could be an effective extension of the health care team to reinforce good hygiene practice in hospitals.
But now I really am convinced. But now I’m able to come at the same questions from a patient perspective. And as a patient, I’m convinced all patient’s need an advocate.
I was recently an ER patient in one of our participating MRSA study hospital. The care was excellent and I was treated very well. When I was able to pay attention, I think the MRSA preventive hygiene practices were done consistently.
The truth was, however, I was NOT able to pay attention most of the time. During my stay, I was poked and prodded and handled by very courteous health care workers who reassured me this test or that IV in my arm was needed…and they just wanted to rule out anything really serious…and as it turned out they were right.
The hospital experience was a little overwhelming, however. I could not help but feel slightly disoriented. I was unable to relax and might have thought a bit too much about how much this was going to cost.
BUT ...in theory, I was an informed, fully insured consumer.
My day job has me keeping track of MRSA statistics and reading about good MRSA preventive protocols. But being a patient is far more difficult. You’re walking or riding into a live action scene. It’s not like a shopping trip where you can just leave and decide not to buy that TV. You may not be able to walk away. The latest consumer report best buy guide doesn’t cover this situation. You are not in control. It can be intimidating.
When I’m asked about my job, I frequently say to my friends that I will never look at a bed rail the same way…..how many hands have touched it……and then they might be touching me…. but that day, I didn’t give it much thought.
And when I was being rolled around the halls going to and from the numerous diagnostic tests…in my designer “Johnny gown”… I was glad to be rolling smoothly in my open air hospital limousine…with bed rails. Truth is, I was not anxious to walk down the hall in my open air gown. It was more comfortable to count the ceiling tiles and lights. MRSA prevention was not on my mind. There was no sign on my door warning anyone “unclean” to stay out.
Here I am with all this knowledge about proper patient hygiene procedures and MRSA infection rates at the tip of my tongue, but the best I could do was be an educated passive observer.
So now, when I hear about or read about gutsy patients or family members who DO get involved and put up their own “keep away / reminder” signs….I admire them more….and applaud…..and keep on applauding for the hospital staff that encourages such behavior. I appreciate how brave and confident a patient or a family member needs to be to play policeman or challenge medical authority figures. I also appreciate how confident and dedicated a nursing staff must be to support those families and patients.
My take away message is simple. Patients are inherently vulnerable.
So my advice is to take your mother (or someone like her ) with you to the hospital. Get a personal advocate. She will ask the questions you forget to ask or were afraid to. She will make the sign warning away unclean workers. And she will record questions in a notebook to ask the doctor later. She knows you have a lot on your mind. She’s on your team
She may not have professional training, but she will know that one hospital acquired infection is too many if it could be prevented. She will also know the convenience of any healthcare worker is not a good excuse for failing to take proper precautions.
“Did you wash your hands young man? You can’t come to the dinner table until you do.”
Welcome to the team Mom!
Joe Poisson PMP
Health Information Project Manager
