The Wall Street Journal reported: “Infections picked up in hospitals, nursing homes and doctor’s offices affect more than 1 million patients and are linked to nearly 100,000 deaths a year.
Most patients wouldn’t dare to ask their doctor to wash his or her hands. But with growing concerns about antibiotic-resistant germs, it’s more critical than ever.
In my health care management career, medical education has advanced from apprenticeships (“see one, do one, teach one”) to differential diagnosis (The process of weighing the probability of one disease versus that of other diseases possibly accounting for a patient’s illness) to … Evidenced Based Medicine
The most common definition of Evidence-Based Practice (EBM) is “the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.”
I ask this question to every clinician examining me, doing a procedure on me, or drawing blood from me. Physicians. Dentists. Phlebotomists. Radiology techs. PTs.
And I prefer they wash their hands in front of me. Proper hand washing is the single most effective preventive medicine measure.
A Bloomberg News article explained why it is important to remind clinicians to wash their hands. “Physicians shouldn’t take offense. We all can benefit from reminders about the basics. Years of education and expertise don’t mean that medical professionals aren’t human, and may sometimes forget a step in even routine procedures.”
The Fox Business story noted: “When Cari Shane requested that her four-year-old’s pediatrician wash her hands before starting the exam, the doctor complied, but was upset. But Shane, who is a public relations executive, says if she were in the same position, she’d do the same thing all over again. What was more important? Having the doctor mad at me or protecting the health of my child?”
“Strict hand hygiene is the gold standard for reducing infections associated with health care-associated infections (HAIs), experts say. And when doctors, nurses and health care workers fall short, it’s important for patients to feel confident enough to speak up.”
“—providing the highest quality of care at the lowest cost possible while improving patient outcomes—is becoming more and more difficult…” “One strong option to help the medical community achieve these aims is physician-led team-based care.”
A recent AMA Wire story noted: “In a physician-led team, physicians collaborate with nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other health professionals, supporting team members in performing to the height of their training and building on each professional’s strengths and perspectives. At the 2012 AMA Interim Meeting, a joint report (AMA login required) of the Councils on Medical Education and Medical Service established principles to guide the interactions between physician team leaders and non-physician practitioners. The Councils noted that this care delivery approach can help improve access to care, enhance quality and enable greater continuity of care.”
There are many advantages of electronic medical records. Electronic medical records (EMR) help health care providers better manage patient care by: