The failure to timely diagnose and treat a hospital-acquired illness (HAI) can, of course, be considered medical negligence. If doctors and nurses stick their heads in the sand and fail to recognize the signs of a serious infection, it can tragically worsen the patient’s condition. That sort of neglect can form the basis of a
Hospitals Fined for Errors
Last month several California hospitals were praised by the federal Health and Human Services Agency. This month a dozen hospitals were penalized for significant errors. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced twelve California hospitals have been assessed administrative penalties after it was determined the facilities’ noncompliance with licensing requirements caused, or was
HHS Recognizes Four California Hospitals for Progress Toward Eliminating Healthcare-Associated Infections
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recognized 37 U.S. hospital and health care facilities for their efforts to prevent hospital-associated infections (HAIs), a leading cause of death in the United States. The awards recognizes individuals and institutions for their efforts to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia and bloodstream infections associated with central intravenous lines.
Hospital Associated Illnesses: Pneumonia, Bloodstream and Urinary Tract Infections
Health care facilities – whether hospitals, nursing homes, or outpatient facilities – can be dangerous places. One risk is “hospital-associated illnesses,” also called "hospital-acquired illnesses." 1.7 million patients contract HAIs each year. In 2002, nearly 100,000 patients died from HAIs. The fatalities broke down as follows:
36,000- pneumonia,
31,000 – bloodstream infections,
13,000 – urinary