Quote From: ladiehawkeYou can bet that hospitals don't want it to get out if they are having a problem with MRSA within their walls. It could mean financial ruin to them. People, you have to demand the doctors to keep you informed as to what tests they are doing on you and what the results of those tests are. In case you don't know it, you have the right to have copies of all tests results. If you go in for outpatient tests, ask to sign paperwork to have copies of the test results sent directly to you. They may give you a hard time about it, if they do tell them you know your patient rights and if they won't provide the paperwork, then to tell you where to go to sign papers to have the results sent to you.
By the way, you all might want to pick up a book by physcian author Robin Cook called Critical. It deals with the MRSA bacteria. While it is a fictional story, Cook is known for his very careful research of all things medical in his stories. It will have you thinking more about MRSA, how it can be caught, and how far hospitals will go to protect their bottom line.
Oh, and for the nurse who objected to the idea of swabbing and testing evey patient, doctor and emplyee in a hospital, as a care giver, your first concern really should be the health and care of patients, not the hospital's bottom line. If that means swabbing every Tom, Dick and Harry to stop the spread of a lethal disease, I say, hell yes! Do, it...
One other things, hospitals are saying that these infections are not acquired within their walls because there is now a law that says if a patient gets sick from a bug indemic to their hospital, then the hospital has to foot the bill for nursing you back to health. The hospital can no longer pass the treatment cost on to your insurer.
First off, are you planning on never going to the hospital ever again? If this is the case then by all means continue complaining. I would also encourage patients to inquire of their health care provider about any thing going on with their bodies. It is the Dr.'s responsibility to do what they can to get you well, but it is yours to find out what is going on.
As for the idea of swabbing every employee, what would be your next idea? Should they stamp me in big red letters saying "I HAVE MRSA"? Or do you think that removing these people from the hospital would be a more acceptable idea. Yes, overhead is a big deal to the hospital, but if they did not think about it you would be paying more than you already are for you precious health coverage. Part of the reason most hospitals don't do the swabbing is that there really is nothing to do next. If they fire all those with the infection then there will be an even bigger problem with the nursing shortage and you will probably die before you are ever seen in the hospital if you are really sick.
YES, MRAS is in the community. I have taken care of a number of people who have never been to the hospital and yet some how have accuired this bacterial infection. Thanks for your comments now stop over reacting. Just think it will cost the hospital more if they cause a problem, don't you think they are going to go to every measure possible to prevent it reather than allowing people to get it from them?
