Children are better behaved when their parents are watching them, but social science suggests that this tendency to modify behavior when under observation does not disappear with age. It is known as the Hawthorne (or observer) Effect, and it can spell trouble for healthcare providers if they ignore the impact of this phenomenon on […]
How the Hawthorne Effect Impacts Hand Hygiene Compliance Read More »
We’ve all been warned about antibiotic resistance and know that healthcare professionals should be careful not to over prescribe antibiotics. Further, hospitals worldwide know the importance of sanitizing instrumentation and hands before operations. Yet, despite this collective knowledge, we’re seeing a global rise in superbugs, bacteria that are resistant to many types of antibiotics. Both
How Nightmare Bacteria Spread Through U.S. Hospitals Read More »
Hand dryers have been considered an environmentally-friendly hygienic solution to hand drying, however a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut at Quinnipiac University have found that is not the case. In fact, their research points to quite the opposite conclusion—that hand dryers in public restrooms actually spread bacteria onto freshly cleaned
Reducing Bacteria in Hospital Bathrooms: Hand Dryers vs. Towels Read More »
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is rising rapidly. In fact, data from the global business consulting firm Accenture indicates that AI in clinical health is expected to grow by 40 percent each year over the next five years – generating staggering annual savings of $150 billion for the US healthcare economy by
Boost Efficiency and Reduce Risk with Artificial Intelligence Read More »
It’s no surprise that 32 percent of healthcare workers report that they do not get enough sleep. Hospitals provide around-the-clock care, meaning nursing staff may work long hours and/or have stressful shift work schedules (shifts outside of the standard 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. work day). The effects of fatigue vary, but almost always result
Dilemmas in Healthcare: Nurse Shift Fatigue Read More »
The use of latex gloves is a highly effective infection control measure adopted by hospitals worldwide. While gloves work well to minimize the spread of infectious diseases, they are designed to augment, not replace, basic hygiene practices, such as handwashing. Recent research published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology suggests that for a significant proportion
The Truth About Latex Gloves and Hand Hygiene in Hospitals Read More »
Hospital administrators regularly address questions larger than efficiency and productivity when it comes to helping people live healthier lives. At the same time, public policies can shift sharply with little notice as new information and technology become widely available. Leaders in healthcare are expected to react faster than those in other industries simply because it
How Public Policy Impacts the Way Hospitals Make Decisions Read More »
Picture yourself as a nurse in a busy contemporary hospital. Is the scene you imagine a quiet one? If so, you probably haven’t been in a hospital in a while. Quiet is the opposite of the status quo in most busy modern medical centers. Prominent among the noise sources is a cacophony of beeping and
National Safety Goals: Reducing Harm from Clinical Alarm Systems Read More »
“Do-the-2. Verify two patient identifiers — every patient, every time.” This pithy advice from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is no silly call for extra typing. Medical errors have been considered as the third leading cause of death in the United States, and prominent among these are errors stemming from mistaken patient
National Patient Safety Goals: Accurate Patient Identification Read More »
How to Reduce HAIs with Safety Goals Fueled by a recent study indicting medical errors as the third leading cause of death in the United States, renewed attention has been focused on preventing healthcare-associated harm to patients. Among the most common and preventable patient safety failures are healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). HAIs contribute to over
National Patient Safety Goals: Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections Read More »
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