Welcome to Our Patient Safety Page
We care about your health and want to keep you safe while you are in the hospital. This page shows what we are doing to stop infections and how you can also help!
What’s on this page:
- What we do to keep you safe
- Ways you can help
- How we are doing
Tap to learn more:
- What are hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)
- How we stop urine infection from tubes (CAUTI)
- How we stop blood infection in tubes (CLABSI)
- How we fight bad germs (C. diff)
- How we stop hard-to-treat germs (MRSA)
- How we prevent infections after surgery (SSI)
- How we protect the skin when hospitalized (Pressure Injuries)
- How we stop falls and injuries that cause harm
- How we are doing (our safety results)
Hospital Acquired Infections
On any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection in the United States, according to the CDC.
What are Healthcare-Acquired Infections (HAIs)?
People who spend the night in a hospital can sometimes get sick from germs there. These sicknesses are called healthcare-acquired infections, or HAIs. HAIs can happen in places like your lungs, skin, or urinary tract, and are usually caused by bacteria or viruses.
Why Preventing HAIs Matter
HAIs can cause people to get very sick, stay in the hospital longer, and in some cases, they can even be life-threatening. They are tough for both patients and the hospital. But the good news is that many HAIs can be stopped by following simple safety steps.
The Importance of Handwashing
Washing your hands is one of the best ways to stop the spread of germs in the hospital. Both patients and hospital workers should wash their hands often. Patients should clean their hands before eating, after going to the bathroom, and whenever they think it’s needed. If you don’t see a hospital worker wash or use hand sanitizer before helping you, it’s okay to kindly remind them to do so.
Handwashing Guide