Suffering from a disability which prevents you from being able to work many times goes hand in hand with doctor’s visits and hospital treatment which can subject you to an unanticipated illness or condition.
Despite years of various preventative campaigns, the number of infections continues to increase. The Department of Health and Human Services’ quality report for 2009, which investigates hospitals across the United States, found very little progress had been made on eliminating infections acquired by hospital patients.
The Department reported its findings to Congress earlier this week, advising Congress that the nation’s hospitals are leaving patients vulnerable to potentially fatal infections.
But the problem does not end there. According to USA Today, nearly 98,000 people die each year as a result of medical errors, preventable infections, and medication mix-ups.
The DHHS report calls for urgent attention and urges officials to address shortcomings that have remained an issue for nearly a decade.
Infections including MRSA, which can enter a patient’s blood stream, are the most dangerous because they can be fatal.
A 2007 report, the latest for which data is available, conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, revealed that rates of bloodstream infections following surgery were up by 8%.
While all hospital patients are susceptible to infection, the elderly are also particularly susceptible to infections while staying in hospitals or nursing homes. Infections and injuries can be caused by weakened immune systems, underlying medical conditions, or even nursing home neglect.
One of the most common nursing home injuries are bed sores.
Bed sores are caused when sustained pressure prevents adequate circulation from reaching a part of the body. The tissue in these areas can die without proper circulation and can become infected easily.
Patients who are bedridden or confined to a wheelchair are especially prone to developing bed sores. Importantly, these are also the patients that are most unable to care for themselves.
Bed Sores Are Preventable
Although bed sores can develop quickly and progress rapidly, they are preventable. Air beds and inflatable pillows may be used to decrease pressure in certain areas. Maintaining cleanliness is also an important preventative step. Depending upon the severity, a bedsore may require surgery.
Facing a planned hospital visit? Check back next week for a list of tips to help you avoid infection.
Suffering from a mental or physical problems (or a combination of problems) severe enough to keep you from working in any regular paying job? The Social Security Benefits Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. will fight to help you obtain social security benefits. The Strom Law Firm aggressively fights social security benefit denials throughout the State of South Carolina. Our lawyers proudly edit the Columbia, South Carolina Injury Board, the Strom Law Social Security Benefits Blog and the Strom Law Workers Compensation Blog as a pro bono effort to provide the public valuable information. Our lawyers are licensed in South Carolina, New York, and Georgia.
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