tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post5297679251315386529..comments2024-03-18T06:27:51.599-04:00Comments on Not Running a Hospital: Better grades on VAPPaul Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-30222303347561998272007-07-23T15:23:00.000-04:002007-07-23T15:23:00.000-04:00Paul,I am impressed by your honesty on this blog. ...Paul,<BR/><BR/>I am impressed by your honesty on this blog. It takes a very special executive to come forth with information like staff compliance rates with procedures.<BR/><BR/>I am finishing my training in periodontics at Tufts. I stumbled across your blog because I am doing a research project on dental plaque and its contributions to VAP. I'm convinced that a properly executed oral care program would have a huge impact on the rate of VAP.<BR/><BR/>It would be great to discuss some of these matters with you. <BR/><BR/>Good luck on your mission to reduce VAP! I wish you all the best.<BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/>DanUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941036560470033202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-58300508948237843692007-03-18T13:52:00.000-04:002007-03-18T13:52:00.000-04:00First, I am not a doctor. That should be evident ...First, I am not a doctor. That should be evident from my lack of understanding of all these issues!<BR/><BR/>Yes, the kind of maintenance and cleaning you mention is part of the program.<BR/><BR/>I don't about the patient request issue, but many of these patients are not in condition to ask themselves. I will inquire further from my folks.<BR/><BR/>BTW, if you know of highly effective programs in this arena from other hospitals, please feel free to suggest where we might look and learn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-80140210655504045722007-03-18T11:43:00.000-04:002007-03-18T11:43:00.000-04:00Dear Dr. Levy:Glad to see improvements being made ...Dear Dr. Levy:<BR/><BR/>Glad to see improvements being made in the area of VAP.<BR/><BR/>Are efforts being made to eliminate cross contamination in spirometry equipment? What exactly is done, to prevent patient to patient, or technician to patient respiratory infection from being spread through unchanged spirometry tubing?<BR/><BR/>Does a patient have the option to request the filters on the PFT machines changed before testing? If not, why not?<BR/><BR/>As you know, it would help reduce the number of hospital aquired infections. <BR/><BR/>This is a hugh concern and I cringe at the thought of what bacteria are lurking in these machines.<BR/><BR/>Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-66099618148251544212007-03-17T07:43:00.000-04:002007-03-17T07:43:00.000-04:00Here are the five:1 - Elevation of the head of the...Here are the five:<BR/>1 - Elevation of the head of the bed;<BR/>2 - Daily "sedation vacation", i.e., some removal of sedation medication;<BR/>3 - Daily assessment of readiness to extubate, i.e, don't keep the breathing tube in longer than necessary;<BR/>4 - Stress ulcer disease prophylaxis, to reduce the risk of upper GI bleeding;<BR/>5 - Deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, to prevent formation of embolisms.<BR/><BR/>Yes, if and when our folks tell me that the actual rates can be measured appropriately. I just don't know when that might be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-76974145187237635832007-03-16T21:40:00.000-04:002007-03-16T21:40:00.000-04:00Congratulations on the improvement, it must do won...Congratulations on the improvement, it must do wonders for your VAP team to see themselves lauded by the head honcho on a national blog. Kudos. I hope you haven't jinxed March... :o)<BR/><BR/>Just out of curiosity, you mention a five part bundle, and VAP isn't something we're working on here so I sniffed out the bundle at IHI, I only see four measures. Am I missing something? I don't see "readiness to extuabte" in there.<BR/><BR/>Just to be even more annoying, you already post your CLABs rate, do you plan on blogging your VAP rate once the surveillance has been duly refined?Jazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06624232605595849074noreply@blogger.com