TV's The Doctors and Hospital Acquired Infections

Have you seen the daytime TV show called "The Doctors?" I had heard of it, had seen commercials for it, but since I never watch daytime TV, I'd had no chance to view it...

I watched it this week for the first time because I spent several hours on a Jet Blue flight. Jet Blue provides TV on its flights - a great way to pass the time. It was fun to poke around the channels to see what was available on daytime TV (the usual game shows and soaps - used to love them!) And there was "The Doctors" - my golden opportunity.

Four doctors, led by Travis Stork (formerly of The Bachelor) discuss medical problems and provide prevention advice. At best it whets one's appetite for more information. But awareness is a noble goal and that's what it accomplishes.

The theme for the day was "Hidden Health Hazards," and the second worst hazard cited was hospitals. A number of problems with patient safety in hospitals were featured. Of course, each of the aspects they discussed deserves at least an entire show on its own. Instead each got about a minute. But here's what they did cover:

MRSAandOtherSuperbugInfections PlusSurgicalErrorsPlusMedicationErrors BeSuretoAskHospitalWorkerstoWashTheirHands andDon'tLetVisitorsSitOnYourHospitalBed

Yes - that fast.

One tidbit of information I didn't know. I didn't know that hospital acquired infections are now considered the 4th leading cause of death in the United States. And another one which makes sense -- if you have had a staph infection previously, you are at higher risk of getting another one. So I did learn something. Always grateful for the opportunity.

I dispute their assertion that there are half a million medical errors each year. That's a fraction of the real number, between the numbers of those who die from the errors (between 44,000 and 98,000) and those who survive but are harmed. There are many millions of Americans who acquire infections alone.

I also dispute several of the statements made about these hospital problems. Dr. Travis Stork stated, "We try our damndest not to let these things happen." (Maybe you do, Travis, but millions of your colleagues do not even bother to wash their hands.) However, worse was Dr. Drew Ordon's statement that "hospital workers try to do everything they can to stop the small number of infections that do occur."

Since when did millions of people become a small number?

As I said, awareness is a noble goal and to the extent that their target audience (young women, 30ish) don't often hear this kind of information, that goal is met. But if you are one of the "small millions" of people who get these infections, it's tough to believe these doctors would try to cover their colleagues' backsides by diminishing the numbers of people who suffer the devastating effects brought about by hospital acquired infections.

If you're curious, the number one hazard is travel. Between bedbugs and airplane bathrooms we have to wonder if we'll ever be safe again.

If you want to learn more about how hazardous hospitals can be, here's information about hospital acquired infections, surgical errors and medication errors. Arm yourself with knowledge to keep yourself safe.