For survivors, the infection extends hospital stays for up to 15 days and increases the chances of readmission within a month. The National Organization for NV-HAP Prevention offers these observations.

These disturbing figures are likely an underestimate of the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia. Now comes evidence that two simple maneuvers can significantly improve the statistics. Can you guess what they are?

Hospital-acquired pneumonia — improving the odds

The two things with the best evidence of preventing hospital-=acquired pneumonia are not particularly expensive or challenging to implement. Here they are:

• Brushing teeth
• Getting patients mobilized

Limited data suggest that it is that simple.

Dodging pneumonia: Brush your teeth.

Let’s look at the experience of Orlando Regional Medical Center in Florida (USA).

Patients in the medical unit who received enhanced oral care had an 85 percent reduction in the risk of developing hospital-acquired pneumonia. Those in the surgical unit saw their risk cut by more than half (56 percent) compared with those who received routine care.

Not convinced? Perhaps a study from a Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Salem, Virginia (USA) will bring you around. Following the introduction of an oral care pilot in 2016, the rates of hospital-acquired pneumonia dropped by a whopping 92 percent.

That improvement in pneumonia rates translated to saving an estimated 13 lives in only 19 months. The Veteran’s Health Administration has broadened the approach across its system. Learn more about the so-called HAPPEN Initiative here:VHA Innovation EcosystemHAPPEN (Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Prevention by Engaging Nurses) began in October 2016 at the Salem VA Medical…www.va.gov

We should shout such outcomes from the rooftops. A simple and inexpensive maneuver can remarkably improve our patients’ outcomes.

Dodging pneumonia: Move

I knew well the perils of not getting patients moving. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot — a thrombus — forms in one or more deep veins, typically in the legs. Patients may report leg pain or swelling, but sometimes there are no symptoms.

Certain medical conditions, including some cancers, raise the chances of DVT. Another cause is not moving for long periods of time. When I travel long distances by car, train, or air, I always make sure to get up regularly.

Here’s the problem with deep venous thrombosis: The blood clots in the veins can break loose, travel through the bloodstream, and get stuck in the lungs. This phenomenon can blood blood flow in the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary embolism (PE). If DVT and pulmonary embolism occur together, we have venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Dodging pneumonia: Brush your teeth and move

Let’s look at some compelling evidence that brushing your teeth and moving can dramatically lower your chances of developing hospital-acquired pneumonia. A Kaiser Permanente study of 21 hospitals in California (USA) focused on oral care and getting patients out of bed. The results are impressive:

This dual strategy of oral care and mobilization dropped the rates of hospital-acquired pneumonia by around 70 percent.

The Smithsonian Museum (USA) observes that you could die from a broken arm not very long ago — and many did. That all changed with the idea that seems obvious today: surgery needs to be sterile.

In 1867, Dr. Joseph Lister published an article in The Lancet that revolutionized medicine. “An Address on the Antiseptic System of Treatment in Surgery” described a new way of practicing operations that he first presented in Glasgow, Scotland.

The great innovation? Kill germs. Lister used a carbolic acid spray on wounds, dressings and surgical tools. He also washed his hands. The acid killed the germs before they had a chance to cause infection, and the hand-washing kept the surgeon from introducing new germs to the surgical field.

Sound familiar?

Thank you for joining me in this look at a simple, practical, and inexpensive way to save the lives of our hospitalized patients.

The post Two Simple Ways to Lower Your Risk of Dying in the Hospital appeared first on Medika Life.

Back in March, Houston Methodist Chief Executive Officer Dr. Marc Boom notified the staff via email that the health system required all staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19. At that time, The Houston Methodist Health System was the first US hospital to require all staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19. In April, the Methodist system issued a June 7 deadline to begin the vaccination series or face termination.

June 7 arrived, and CEO Dr. Marc Bloom stays true to his word by suspending the medical staff members who did not comply with the hospital Covid-19 vaccine policy. Houston Methodist has already vaccinated almost all of its 26,000 employees. Blooms statement to Axios revealed 285 staff members were granted a “medical or religious exemption, and 332 were granted deferrals for pregnancy.”

Under the current policy, pregnant people may choose to wait until after delivery to start the Covid-19 vaccine series. Of note, multiple studies now show Covid-19 vaccines in pregnancy are safe for mom and baby.

In the meantime, Houston Methodist is embroiled in a lawsuit over the mandate. One hundred seventeen employees claim the Covid-19 vaccine violates their rights under the Nuremberg Code. The Nurenberg Code is not a law but rather a set of medical ethics designed to protect human subjects voluntarily participating in clinical trials.

Ethicists developed the Nurenberg Code 70 years ago after Nazi atrocities came to light, proving doctors at the Auschwitz concentration camp performed medical experiments on Jewish prisoners without their consent.

Although Houston Methodist was the first hospital to require Covid-19 vaccinations, hospital-required vaccines are nothing new. The CDC already recommends multiple vaccinations for healthcare workers. The recommendations apply to physicians, nurses, emergency medical personnel, dental professionals and students, medical and nursing students, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, hospital volunteers, and administrative staff.

Hospital staff in the US are required to get vaccinated against currently include Hepatitis B, Influenza, MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella), Varicella, and Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis). Most hospitals also require annual tuberculosis risk assessments. Hospitals also monitor physician and nurse hand washing and hygiene to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections.

Hospitals do not require these vaccines as a means of controlling health providers or imposing on their lives. Instead, hospitals require specific vaccinations to lower the risk of hospital-acquired infections. Vaccinations protect hospital staff from infectious disease exposure and reduce the risk of a healthcare worker transmitting an infectious disease to a hospitalized patient.

Covid-19 vaccines have proven to be highly effective at reducing the risk for healthcare workings and first responders. The CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published information on healthcare worker vaccine safety and efficacy back in March 2021. This update analyzed Covid-19 vaccines in a real-world setting. The findings showed the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna were 90 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 infections among healthcare personnel, first responders, and other essential frontline workers.

Vaccinating healthcare workers reduces the risk of spreading the infection from health providers to patients.

Outside of healthcare, our Government already requires proof of vaccination for many diseases before people enter the United States. The US Government began requiring “Certificate of vaccination” cards to travel in and out of certain countries in 1959. Many countries require US citizens show proof of a yellow fever vaccine before they are allowed to enter.

The Houston Methodist Health System vaccine requirements create a potential clash between State and Federal law.

On April 16, Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order prohibiting state agencies or political subdivisions in Texas from creating a “vaccine passport” requirement. On June 7, Abbott signed S.B. 968 into law banning businesses from requiring vaccine passports. Under this law, it is now illegal for any company in Texas to require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations to engage in business.

Updated guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission indicates employers may require vaccination stating “Federal EEO laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19, so long as employers comply with the reasonable accommodation provisions of the ADA and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other EEO considerations.”

Many businesses are concerned that Abbott’s increase in governmental regulation impinges on the rights and freedoms of individual business owners. Governor Abbott has signed a series of recent legislation limiting individual rights and liberty.

Under SB 968, Texas business owners no longer have the right to determine a safe way to reopen their businesses. Instead, Governor Abbott has determined the Texas Government should decide what is best for each company.

Governor Abbott’s government control transcends business and entrepreneurship. The Governor has also expanded the Government’s control over healthcare. Abbott signed SB 8, which banned abortion in Texas after six weeks of gestation. This bill, known as the “heartbeat ban,” removes the rights of pregnant people to control what happens to their bodies even if they were the victims of incest or rape.

The Houston Methodist vaccine policy will be a test of our legal system.

Mandating Covid-19 vaccination in hospital workers appears to violate Texas SB 968, but the requirements seem to comply with Federal guidelines. Time will tell if Houston Methodist’s efforts to protect healthcare workers and prevent hospital-acquired infections will stand up in court.

The post Houston Methodist Hospital Suspends Staff Who Refuse to Get a Covid-19 Vaccine appeared first on Medika Life.

The Houston Methodist Hospital System made national news for being the first to require its staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19. The response was a mixed bag of support and public pushback. While many understand the benefit of vaccinated healthcare workers in a hospital setting, others felt uncomfortable with an employer mandate.

CEO Dr. Marc Bloom hopes to create the safest environment as possible for patient care. Increasing the number of vaccinated workers reduces the risk of spreading the infection from health providers to patients.

Hospital staff vaccinations create a safe environment for patient care. He stated, “When we choose to be vaccinated against COVID-19, we are prioritizing safety by helping stop the spread of this deadly virus and keeping our patients, visitors, and colleagues safe.”

Mandatory vaccination is a bold move but one backed by scientific evidence. A CDC report showed the messenger RNA vaccines are 90 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 infections in healthcare workers and first responders.

The CDC published updated information on vaccination’s safety and efficacy in healthcare workers in the March 29th Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. This update analyzed Covid-19 vaccines in a real-world setting. The findings showed the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna were 90 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 infections among healthcare personnel, first responders, and other essential frontline workers.

So far, 89% of the hospital employees are vaccinated. The Houston hospital gave out $500 bonuses to those who received their Covid-19 vaccines. Hospital administrators were required to begin the vaccine process in the middle of April.

The hospital is following the influenza vaccine policy it implemented in 2009. On June 7, unvaccinated employees will be placed on a two-week suspension giving them time to begin the vaccination process. Like other required hospital vaccinations, employees will not be permitted to return to work unless they are vaccinated. The hospital considers employee vaccinations to be a patient-safety issue.

The CDC recommends vaccinations for healthcare workers include physicians, nurses, emergency medical personnel, dental professionals and students, medical and nursing students, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, hospital volunteers, and administrative staff.

These vaccinations currently include Hepatitis B, Influenza, MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella), Varicella, and Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis). Most hospitals also require annual tuberculosis risk assessments. These recommendations are in place to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections. Healthcare worker vaccinations protect hospital staff exposed to infectious disease and reduce the risk of a healthcare worker transmitting an infection to a hospitalized patient.

The Houston Methodist system may be the first hospital to require vaccination, but others are considering their options. Texas Herman Hospital and the Baylor College of Medicine are evaluating the options.

Some have questioned the legality of a private company mandating Covid-19 vaccination for employees. A recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance indicates employers may require vaccination.

On Monday, March 29, 2021, everyone aged 16 and older was now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas.

There are three FDA-approved vaccines for Covid-19. The two messenger RNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer offer 95% protection against Covid-19. The Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna use messenger RNA (mRNA). A single strand of mRNA delivers instructions to human cells to produce an antibody against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

The Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccine offers 72% protection against infection and 86% against severe disease. The Janssen vaccine uses Adenovirus 26 (AD26) as the vector to deliver DNA material into our cells to provoke an immune response.

The FDA resumed administration of the Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccine after a temporary pause to study the risk of rare but severe blood clots in a small number of cases. The FDA has determined “that the available data show that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older.”

The Moderna and Janssen vaccines are approved for those 18 years old and up. The Pfizer vaccine is approved starting at age 16.

All three vaccines are highly effective in preventing death.

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