Contaminated Surgical Instruments

Every day, all across the United States of America, thousands of surgical procedures are performed in medical facilities. These procedures are conducted for a number of reasons ranging the gamut from cosmetic and elective purposes, to life saving and emergency purposes. Regardless of the reason behind the surgical procedure, all surgeries carry risk, while of course some more than others, and patients place a great deal of faith and trust in their medical professionals. Even though risk is understood, patients expect that their procedures are still going to go well, and that they will suffer no consequences or side effects.

While this is true for the most part, unfortunately, there are times when mistakes are made and complications arise. One of the top causes of injuries to patients during surgery is infection. This surgical complication accounts for the most injuries and deaths amongst patients in the United States, which has led to a great cause for concern over how well surgical instruments are being sterilized in healthcare facilities, as well as the techniques used to sterilize the equipment.

With over thirty million surgical procedures completed each and every year, there is a great chance of infection. In fact, statistics suggest that at least twenty percent of all procedures will lead to infections that could be prevented, simply because of using instruments that were contaminated. If this was not bad enough in and of itself, the side effects that can come from the infections can cause severe complications that can be life threatening and lead to the need to be hospitalized for long periods of time, which results in astronomical medical bills.

If you or someone you know has been harmed because of a surgical injury that resulted from contaminated instruments, it is important to understand that you have legal rights. These types of injuries are because of wrong doing and/or negligence you are entitled to file a claim to help recoup damages for pain and suffering as well as expenses. You should not delay in seeking the assistance and guidance of a personal injury attorney who specializes in the area of medical malpractice. These professionals are quite skilled in this area of the law and are your best line of defense.

Surgical instruments, tools, and equipment provide doctors, surgeons, and even dentists with a great deal of assistance when conducting procedures. These implements allow medical professionals to reach areas that may not otherwise be reached, and are designed to help make procedures safer, and more effective. While safeguards are put into place to protect patients by making use of sterilization and other cleaning methods, there are times when this does not take place, or it is not done properly. Since there are a number of diseases that are considered to be communicable, failing to take adequate precautions can be a very serious issue that can have devastating complications for patients.

There is no doubt that inadequate sterilization causes instruments to become contaminated, which leads directly to patient health being placed in danger. Contaminated surgical instruments quickly spread a number of viruses and bacteria. Common illnesses that result from contamination include: HIV and AIDS, Hepatitis A, B, and C, Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal infections, pneumonia, Crutzfeldt Jakob Disease, as well as other serious conditions.

The medical complications from these diseases can be devastating, and in a number of cases fatal. Patients are left with their lives destroyed and are forced to face a new reality that will include years of medical treatments, medication, possibly future surgeries, and painful procedures. In some cases, the disease will never leave and the patient will have a shortened lifespan. On top of these serious health issues, the cost for treating the illnesses that result from contaminated instruments can be extremely high.

The law requires that medical professionals follow strict guidelines for thorough decontamination of all instruments and equipment being used in procedures. These guidelines are put in place to protect the safety and the health of all patients. When these guidelines are not followed correctly, a type of negligence has occurred and those who are responsible for the damages can be and should be held accountable for their actions.

If you or someone you know has suffered an infection or contracted a disease because of instruments that were not properly sterilized, it is important to understand that you have rights and you can seek compensation for your injuries. A lawsuit can be filed and compensation can be sought for a number of different issues including past, present, and future medical bills, a loss of income, a loss of quality of life, pain and suffering, as well as punitive damages in some cases. Punitive damages are a type of compensation that is awarded as nothing more than a form of punishment. This type of punishment is handed down as a way to hopefully prevent future similar acts from occurring again.

You should not delay in seeking the assistance of a personal injury attorney who specializes in the area of medical malpractice and negligence. These professionals are highly skilled in this area of the law and will work hard on your behalf to get you the justice you so rightly deserve. Medical professionals and hospitals have teams of attorneys working to protect their interests, and you should have someone fighting for your rights in your corner.

These types of cases can be quite complicated and often hinge on many small details. Therefore, you should not attempt to file on your own without the help of a legal professional. You will need to ensure all details are complete, and that all statutes of limitations have been met. Since most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, you do not have to worry about funding your claim in advance or as it progresses through the court system. You pay nothing until the time your case settles. This can provide you with a great deal of comfort during an already difficult time, and you will find you have nothing to lose, but a great deal to gain.

6 Reasons Why Hospital Employees Require Compliance and Ethics Training

As it goes, good ethics and compliance to regulations and procedures is essential in all organizations, and more so in hospitals and health care organizations, as they deal directly with human lives. When someone's life is on the line, even one small mistake can cost you everything. Therefore, it is very important that all hospital employees are given good ethical practices and compliance training.

Here are six major reasons why hospital employees need to be trained.

• This training teaches employees to differentiate between right and wrong in the health care setting. Though it is not necessary that all compliance negligence and bad ethics leads to violations, it is good for the employees to be aware of which of theiractions are damaging to a patient's health and which are not.

• When healthcare professionals strive to practice good ethical behavior and comply with the rules, the chances of fraud decreases considerably. Fraud is not only against the law, but also creates issues for those who are dependent on healthcare resources for their treatment. This in turn is a disadvantage for the hospital, as it leads to waste of financial resources that could have been used for new equipments and other needful things.

• Since HIPAA has emphasized on compliance and ethics training, the patients have benefitted greatly. They now have the upper hand in all things pertaining to their own health information. The doctors are called to respect the patient's wishes and rights. All the patients have the same right to the best health care, privacy and confidentiality, and independence.

• When all the employees of the hospital consciously follow all the compliance regulations and ethical standards, the hospital functions smoothly and efficiently. This is beneficial for both patients and well as doctors. There will be no hitch in the work flow and better services will be provided faster.

• This training imbibes in the employees a desire to uphold a high standard in the work place. They will strive to do the best job and also understand their own limitations. When each employee does the job he/she is assigned to do, the standard of the hospital reaches new heights.

• When the employees of an organization follow good ethical practices and adhere to the regulations, the hospital benefits and the people around notice. Thus, it gives the hospital a good standing, which is very important for the hospital to get more patients and maintain a good reputation.

If hospital employees properly undergo this training, the medical system would be more efficient in providing services and helping patients. This requires the hospital management to be committed to this training. They will have to spare their employees for the training and then encourage them to adhere to the guidelines. This can be done through checklists and rewards, to name a few. It is not only undergoing the training but also putting it all into practice in the hospital setting that makes a difference. Overall, good ethics and compliance benefits the patients, doctors, and the hospital itself.

Few Things You Should Know About CPR Training: 5 Points

Research has shown time and again that immediate CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) given to victims of cardiac arrest double their chances of survival. If one of your loved ones or even a stranger had a heart attack in your presence, would you be able to help them? Since most people don't bother with CPR training the answer would most likely be no. Research has also shown that a larger percentage of cardiac arrests occur at home, which is all the more reason for you to learn CPR.

Here are few things about CPR training you should know.

• Cardiac arrest means that the person's brain, heart, and lungs are not getting blood and oxygen. CPR includes chest compressions as well as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, which when given to the victim can bring a significant change in his condition. It can add a few precious moments to the victim's life until professional medical help arrives. In most cases, CPR is not given immediately and it leads to the death of the patient by the time he is taken to the hospital for treatment.

• Knowing CPR is also beneficial for other emergency medical situations such as choking, burns, drowning, electric shock, and drug overdose. For e.g. the Heimlich Maneuver is taught in a CPR training class which will enable you to help a victim who may be choking due to an obstructed airway.

• CPR is only useful if it is administered immediately. It greatly increases the victim's survival chances. Sometimes even trained individuals hesitate to perform CPR for fear of worsening the situation. It is important to remember that without CPR the victim will probably die. Therefore, any CPR is better than no CPR. It is essential to choose a reputable training program that will give you the confidence to administer the technique as soon as the medical emergency occurs.

• Nowadays, many medical organizations and government offices have made CPR training compulsory for their employees. Employees of a hospital are more likely to be present for emergencies and therefore are required to be always prepared. Other individuals like geriatric care-givers and baby-sitters must also be trained as they may experience certain emergencies while performing their jobs.

• There is always a fear in the mind that providing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to others, especially strangers increases the risk of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection. Therefore, it is necessary to wear a mask while performing CPR. Masks with special sanitary barriers for safety and cleanliness are also available. They incorporate a one-way valve and can be carried around easily. It is recommended that you carry your own mask in your bag at all times as you never know when you may encounter a cardiac arrest victim.

CPR Training, though not always mandatory, is often useful as it enables you to save someone's life. Accidents and emergencies occur without prior notice. Knowledge of this particular first-aid technique keeps you prepared at all times and gives you the confidence to save a life.