Some physicians' attitudes toward infection prevention may be the reason for high rates of infection-related patient mortality, said Peter Pronovost, MD, in a CNN news report.
Dr. Pronovost's comments were in response to a New York Times column in which columnist Maureen Dowd wrote about her brother's death during an ICU stay. Ms. Dowd's brother, who was admitted to a hospital for pneumonia, contracted four infections in the ICU. When she asked the physician what could have caused the infections, the physician replied "it could be anything" before walking away. Ms. Dowd's brother later died in the same ICU.
"What really struck me most in Maureen's column was the physician's lack of accountability," Dr. Pronovost said. "He didn't see this as his problem. It was like, 'Well, this stuff happens.'" In fact, hospital-acquired infections are a type of adverse event that is entirely preventable. Some hospitals have implemented simple measures that helped reduce pneumonia infections associated with ventilators by 70 percent, Dr. Pronovost said.
Read the CNN news report about Dr. Peter Pronovost's response to a New York Times column.
Read other coverage about patient safety:
- Creating a Successful Influenza Prevention Program in Ambulatory Settings
- National Quality Forum Creates Web Page Devoted to Patient Safety
- NCPA: Cost of Adverse Events Equates to 45% of Healthcare Spending
Dr. Pronovost's comments were in response to a New York Times column in which columnist Maureen Dowd wrote about her brother's death during an ICU stay. Ms. Dowd's brother, who was admitted to a hospital for pneumonia, contracted four infections in the ICU. When she asked the physician what could have caused the infections, the physician replied "it could be anything" before walking away. Ms. Dowd's brother later died in the same ICU.
"What really struck me most in Maureen's column was the physician's lack of accountability," Dr. Pronovost said. "He didn't see this as his problem. It was like, 'Well, this stuff happens.'" In fact, hospital-acquired infections are a type of adverse event that is entirely preventable. Some hospitals have implemented simple measures that helped reduce pneumonia infections associated with ventilators by 70 percent, Dr. Pronovost said.
Read the CNN news report about Dr. Peter Pronovost's response to a New York Times column.
Read other coverage about patient safety:
- Creating a Successful Influenza Prevention Program in Ambulatory Settings
- National Quality Forum Creates Web Page Devoted to Patient Safety
- NCPA: Cost of Adverse Events Equates to 45% of Healthcare Spending
