Health care quality means to me many things. After doing a research project on Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus Aureus, more commonly known as MRSA, I have realized how vulnerable we are as patients.
MRSA is an infection that is highly contagious and extremely devastating to those that get it. But what shocked me the most is the lack of preventive measures such as “awareness and education” to patients and medical staff, from the health care industry. I just recently gave birth to a baby girl, and not even once was given any literature on MRSA, and how it can be passed on to patients or from patients.
Too much trust is being given to health care organizations (HCO’s) and physicians on the wellbeing and fast recovery of patients, when a large percentage of these infections are being transmitted through the hospitals. Either because of poor environmental sterilization, poor use of antibiotics, poor supervision, lack of resources on items such as: gloves, robes, etc. (Siegel, Rhinehart, Jackson, Chiarello, 2006).
I walked out of mother-in-laws nursing home two weeks ago, and when I went to clean my hands with hand-sanitizers at the door, it was empty. This is what I mean by how vulnerable we are when we rely too much on HCO’s. This is what health care is about to me. About providing all preventive measures to patients and medical staff, etc. to maintain health in our community.
A patient hospitalized with MRSA has a medical expense 110% higher than one ; and who pays the majority of the bill (besides self pay patients)? Taxpayers, through Medicaid and Medicare (AHCA, July 2009). They swallow 71% of the charges, which in 2007 amounted to $2.591.292.8886 (AHCA, July 2009).
In conclusion, quality of care is more than getting the right diagnosis, and the right attitude and information from your provider, it is knowing that they are doing all the right things, and that you are not vulnerable to their mistakes, and left with a large bill to swallow.
References:
AHCA. (July 2009). MRSA in 2007 Florida hospitalizations. Statistical Brief. Florida Center for Health Information and Policy Analysis. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Retrieved July 5, 2011 from URL: https://floridahealthfinderstore.blob.core.windows.net/documents/researchers/documents/MRSAbrieffinal.pdf
Siegel, J. D., Rhinehart, E., Jackson, M., & Chiarello, L. (2006). (Unites States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee). Retrieved July 10, 2011, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/ar/MDROGuideline2006.pdf
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