Soaring infection rates and training. Lack of concentration causes a break in care for patients, frequently resulting in an infection.
Breaks in care, resulting in an infection, occur when concentration is broken, caregivers are not paying attention, or multitasking is taking place. As described by Office Inspector General (2007), The Department of Veterans Affair Briefing report discusses various preventable occurrences impacting quality of patient care. Distractions include scrub tech not fully participating in the time-out, instruments not being ready from Sterile processing Department (SPD), last minute radiological studies not ready on monitors, equipment in poor maintenance, and miss counts taking time away from patient care, resulting in errors leading to hospital acquired infections. The report by Department of Veterans Affairs Office (2007) discusses "at times, we found that all members of the OR team did not give their full attention to the time-out briefing. The circulator nurse had to solicit verbal concurrence from the surgeons or anesthesia" (Department, 2007).
Surgical site infections for the patient are costly. Loss of work impacts people using the health care system. Unable to work, due to additional surgery, many patients lose their jobs. Surgical infections can be devastating for patients. Germs can be anywhere. Operating room staff must be vigilant. Patients do not always die. When they survive, pain, scarring, and financial burdens can happen. Hospital systems can hire nursing organizations for help, but if advice not followed, can be held to a higher accountability.
Preventing hospital acquired infections are on the rise. Clark (2002) discusses cost cutting and financial instability has increased caregiver distractions. A distraction can be the increasing nursing shortage. Nurses expected to speed up care with fewer staff members causing poor adherence to hand washing protocols.
