There are many reasons why it is important to study clinical issues in different healthcare organizations. For one, healthcare organizations can be very complex and understanding the clinical processes and issues within different types of organizations can help immensely in providing quality patient care. Secondly, with the vast array of different types of healthcare organizations out there, from hospitals to community health centers, private practices to research institutes, it is important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each type of organization in order to make the best decisions for both patients and providers. And finally, by studying clinical issues within different healthcare organizations, we can learn a great deal about how effective various interventions and treatments are across a wide range of settings. This information can then be used to improve care delivery services to all the patients and facilitate clinical operational processes within healthcare organizations. On of the major clinical issues within healthcare organizations is healthcare acquired infections.
Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the United States, HAIs account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths each year. CDC estimates that on any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection. Healthcare-associated infections increase length of stay, amplify the severity of illness, and lead to unnecessary suffering and death. They also drive-up healthcare costs—estimated at $20 billion annually in the United States alone. HAIs can be especially devastating for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems. Some examples of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) include: -methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), -vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), -Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) infection (Grayson et al., 2018).
Treating HCAIs can be difficult and expensive, as well as posing a serious risk to patients’ health and well-being. There are many different approaches have been taken to try and address this problem, including: -improving hand hygiene among healthcare workers, -using personal protective equipment (PPE) properly, and -disinfecting surfaces and equipment correctly.
Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital. HAIs are a serious global public health problem and are a leading cause of death and illness. Each year, more than 2 million people in the United States develop HAIs, and about 100,000 of them die. The most common types of HAI are respiratory tract infections (such as pneumonia), urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections (sepsis). Healthcare-associated gastrointestinal infections account for about one-third of all HAIs (Munoz-Figueroa & Ojo, 2018). There are many ways to prevent HAIs, including good hand hygiene practices, using medications properly, and safely caring for patients. Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the United States, HAIs account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths each year. CDC estimates that on any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection.
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