Recently the Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/ * 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.
It’s a simple enough request, but for patients and families who feel vulnerable, scared or uncomfortable in a hospital room, the subject can be too intimidating to even bring up with a doctor or nurse: Have you washed your hands?
Hospitals are encouraging patients to be more assertive, amid growing concern about infections that are resistant to antibiotics.”
*to read the full WSJ article “Why Hospitals Want Patients to Ask Doctors, ‘Have You Washed Your Hands?” by Laura Landro , highlight and click on open hyperlink http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303918804579107202360565642?KEYWORDS=hospital&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303918804579107202360565642.html%3FKEYWORDS%3Dhospital