Archive for the Publications Category

Extensive Investigation Reveals Startling Discoveries About Surgery Centers An extensive investigation by Kaiser Health News and the USA TODAY Network has made startling discoveries about surgery centers. They found that throughout the U.S. more than 260 patients have died since 2013, after procedures performed at surgery centers. Furthermore, dozens have perished after standard out-patient operations, such as colonoscopies and tonsillectomies. What’s more upsetting is some of these victims were two years old and younger. Consequently, 17 states do not have to report these deaths! In the wake of surging popularity of surgery centers, the findings are astonishing. Reporters combed over

Are Hospitals Making You Sicker? Whether you call it a healthcare-acquired infection, a hospital-acquired infection, or a hospital-acquired disease it all implies the same thing. That when you go to the hospital for treatment, you run the risk of picking up an utterly non-related infection or illness, on top of whatever illness for which you are being treated. This is a major unspoken epidemic plaguing our healthcare industry, responsible for the deaths of 99,000 people every year. What are hospital-acquired infections (HAI)? Can they be prevented? Does going to the hospital make you sicker? We have the answers to these

Ginny’s Story The healthcare industry has long struggled to ensure care coordination for its patients. Not only is it important that all providers follow a universal protocol when providing care, but the facility must also follow set practices for sterilization and cleanliness and germ eradication. At present, there are only mere guidelines. Furthermore, maintaining the guidelines is strictly left up to the discretion of the facility or the particular healthcare system. Therefore, cleanliness can dramatically vary from site to site.  Care coordination must start with engineering healthy facilities. It is paramount for any urgent care, long-term care, hospitals, surgical centers,

The Danger of Hot Bunking in Hospitals   Hospital Acquired Diseases (HAD’s) are an international epidemic. They seem to flourish seemingly unchecked by the healthcare industry. One such method hospitals employ that encourages the spread of diseases is the standard practice of “hot bunking.” Hot bunking in hospitals translates to the kiss of death for patients and continues to be a primary source for the spread of germs. The mission of the IFord Institute is disease prevention engineering and implementing strategies to create healthy hospitals. We aim to end the practice of hot bunking and change the method of hospitals

The Philosophy of the Solution Hospital Acquired Diseases are an international epidemic, raging seemingly unchecked by the healthcare industry. In the United States alone at least 5000 patients contract HAD’s every day. And, of these infected, approximately 700 will die. The CDC reports that on any given day, 1 in 25 hospital patients has at least one HAD. While there have been strides to combat this, the problem continues to grow, and many are calling it a modern-day plague. What are the reasons behind the epidemic? What is the philosophy of the solution? Looking In the Wrong Place The number

Better Disinfection Efforts 250 Years Ago Taking a look at Healthcare History gives us insight into disease prevention engineering, and healthy hospital design. And, as with all historical study, it helps us not to repeat mistakes of the past, and learn how to refine the future. Would you believe that most modern hospitals’ sanitation methods pale in comparison to the efforts of the British Navy of yore? Seems like a stretch, however, they were relentless in their efforts to maintain the health of their crews. They understood that even a lesser ship could defeat a larger one in battle if

Shiny New Toys Since we were children many of us have submitted to “Shiny New Toy” syndrome. It is human nature to be fascinated by the newest technology, and toss aside other methods as outdated or obsolete. This is especially true in the healthcare industry. Every year new technology is released that seems to make tasks more efficient and accurate. However, the medical industry is forgetting their most important tenant. “Primum non nocere” is a Latin phrase and the basis for the precepts of bioethics taught to all healthcare students. It is the fundamental principle defined at “First, Do No

The Healthcare System is Failing It’s Patients Today’s modern healthcare system is failing it’s patients. According to the CDC, on any given day around the world, at least 1 in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection. Meaning, on a daily basis, already sick patients, being cared for in a hospital, are contracting additional infections from the very hospital in which they are being treated. And, what’s worse, these, hospital-acquired diseases (HADs) are 100 percent preventable. This fact is completely unacceptable. We need to demand that hospitals take better care of us. In response, the IFord Institute has