January 27, 2010 -- Hospital Impact has been ranked one of the top 50 healthcare blogs by Wikio.
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by Christopher Cornue
As many of our readers know, I’m usually not short on words, but this posting is very direct and few words are needed. We spend a great deal of time discussing ways to make our healthcare system better in the States and this is an absolutely essential discussion that needs to occur, and it will continue. However, I do want to take a step back, prompted (I’m sure) by a recent hospital stay in November and other recent activities. Medicine is so amazing and our society is able to do so much to improve the health of individuals. The progress made over the past few decades (and centuries, for that matter) is remarkable and our possibilities to improve are endless. The ability to affect the lives of individuals, whether you are a front-line caregiver, physician, administrator, office worker, etc. is a rewarding and awesome responsibility. I’m so proud to be a part of this industry and to be an active contributor to these efforts.
So, with that brief pause and reflection on our industry, I look forward to our future discussions, collaboration and solutions to, as Tony puts it, make “our hospitals the best run organizations on the face of the planet” and improve the delivery of healthcare!
Safety TipHospital facilities built today do not include asbestos, but many older buildings still have asbestos components in them. Steam pipes, boilers and furnace ducts were often insulated with an asbestos blanket or asbestos paper tape because of their fireproof and insulating properties. Resilient floor tiles were made from vinyl asbestos. Asbestos cement was employed in roofing, shingles and siding materials. The hazard of this carcinogen increases when the fibers become airborne, and untrained contractors can inadvertently increase risks by cutting, tearing, sawing, scraping, or sanding asbestos materials. Elevated asbestos levels can occur in hospitals where old materials are damaged or disturbed. It is best to leave undamaged asbestos material alone if it is not likely to be disturbed. Inhaling asbestos fibers is known to cause mesothelioma and other diseases. Be sure to use an experienced asbestos removal contractor when you need to get rid of old materials that might contain asbestos. |