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HEADED FOR THE HOSPITAL? Here's How to Protect Yourself
"Human error -- whether it stems from overworked and exhausted medical interns or other
causes -- is a leading source of medical errors that kill as many as 98,000 Americans a
year, according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The problem is particularly acute in
hospitals.
While efforts continue to be made to reduce errors -- and the costs associated with them
-- several leading medical groups urge consumers to do their part to protect against mistakes.
Here are some steps they advise you to take to ensure your hospital visit -- or that of a
friend or family member -- is a safe one:
1. If you're having surgery and can choose where it will be done, select a hospital where the
procedure is done frequently. Patient outcomes are generally better in such hospitals.
2. Ask all health-care workers who attend you to wash their hands. Hand washing remains a
critical way to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals, but studies show it is not
done often enough, especially by physicians.
3. Ask questions. Know what drug and what dose you're being given -- and why -- before
taking it. Never assume it's right just because a nurse tells you it's what the doctor
ordered. Medication errors are the most common mistakes in hospitals, according to the IOM.
4. Make sure that everyone who gives you medications checks your hospital ID bracelet every
time. Patient mix-ups are more common than supposed in hospitals.
5. Make sure any allergies are noted prominently in your chart and mention them to everyone
who attends you. Likewise, make sure your chart notes every medication you are taking, including
over-the- counter medicines and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs.
6. Try to have an advocate on hand -- a trusted friend or family member who can monitor the
situation and actively seek help if there's a problem. Chasing down doctors or care or
needed information can be nearly impossible when you're bed-bound, doped up or in pain.
In some cases it might be advisable to hire a private-duty nurse overnight when staffing
tends to be light and some studies show mistakes are more likely to occur.
7. If you are having surgery, make sure your doctor marks the proper surgical site clearly --
and initials it. Wrong-site surgery is a highly publicized cause of error and one that health
officials say should never occur.
8. Ask your doctor, upon discharge, to explain the treatment he or she wants you to follow
at home. Doctors often assume patients understand more than they do about follow-up care.
9. If you are in a teaching hospital and worry that the doctor taking care of you isn't
sufficiently knowledgeable or experienced, ask that a more senior physician be consulted.
That may be the chief resident or an attending physician. Don't worry about hurting an
intern's feelings; your safety is more important."
From the Washington Post 11/28/06
SNOW REMOVAL - Don't Hurt Yourself This Year!
We have certainly been lucky so far this winter, but snow is inevitable. Here are some ways to avoid injury:
Don't shovel if you have had serious spinal, lung, or cardiovascular problems, or are out of shape.
Do some simple warm-up exercises (walk in place) and gently stretch to limber up before shoveling.
Dress warmly in layers, and wear an extra-long sweater to protect the lower back.
You may want to wear a support or weight belt.
Always stand erect and bend from the hips and knees, not the waist. Handle small to moderate loads of snow.
Keep your abdomen and buttocks tight when you lift or push the snow. Read more on how to perform
an abdominal brace.
Whenever possible, push rather than lift the snow. Deposit it nearby rather than trying to
throw it over a wide area.
Use the arms, legs, feet, and thighs in a coordinated effort.
Stop if you feel pain, get dizzy or out of breath.
ICE your back (or any other problem areas) for 15 minutes after you finish shoveling. Do this
even if you do not have any pain! You will avoid the next day soreness typical after shoveling.
MID ATLANTIC STRENGTH SYMPOSIUM - Saturday, February 24, 2007 at George Mason
University
Topics include:
Westside Implications for the High School Athlete
Corrective Exercise for Health and Performance
Training Combat Athletes
Coaching the Athlete
Rotator Cuff Relief: How to Train the Rotator Cuff (Dr. Horwitz is the speaker!)
Get in My Belly: Dietary Supplements, Functional Foods, Nutrition, and the Athlete
The Multi-Year Plan for the Division 1 Baseball Player
See
Mid Atlantic Strength Symposium
for registration information.
FITNESS CORNER - Stay Trim for Baby
"Women who have gained a few pounds since their first pregnancy just got some extra
incentive to slim down. A recent study out of Harvard School of Public Health has
found that mothers who gain weight between pregnancies face far greater risk of
complications the second time around. The population-based study looked at more
than 150,000 Swedish women who had their first two single-birth pregnancies between
1992 and 2001. It found that mothers who gained three or more units of body mass
index (BMI) - compared to those who gained less than one - had a 78% greater chance
of suffering from preeclampsia, a 76% greater chance of gestational hypertension,
and a little more than twice the chance of gestational diabetes.
The odds for Caesarean delivery and stillbirth were also significantly greater. To
increase her BMI by three unites, a 5'2" woman weighing 120 lbs. (BMI = 21.9) would
need to gain 16 lbs., and even then she'd still fall within what's considered the
normal range.
The authors say these findings 'suggest that even modest increases in BMI before pregnancy could
result in perinatal complications, even if a woman does not become overweight.'"
From Alternative Medicine, February 2007, p.16
What's the bottom line? GET IN SHAPE BEFORE YOU BECOME PREGNANT!
NUTRITION CORNER - Avoid Cola Drinks To Keep Bones Strong
Women and men who are concerned about osteoporosis can take a simple step toward bone health:
Stop drinking colas. It does not seem to matter if the sodas are diet, regular, or decaffeinated,
says a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Women 60 or older who drink cola had
lower bone mass than those who did not, and the loss became greater with each additional can.
Science News
NEW PRODUCT -AVAGARD D: Hand Antiseptic with Moisturizers
We have finally found a great waterless hand antiseptic that will not dry out your skin.
I have been looking for one for years. Between washing my hands between patients and weightlifting,
the skin on my hands would crack with other waterless antiseptics. Avagard D is used at the
University of Washington Hospital Center.
We have Avagard D for sale in the 3 oz personal size for $4.50 This will save you the shipping costs!
YOUCANBEFIT.COM
Steven Horwitz, DC, CSCS
12200 Tech Road, Suite 104
Silver Spring, MD 20904
301-622-9000
11322 Hollowstone Drive
Rockville, MD 20852
301-770-4602
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Maryland Sports Injury Center