Workplace safety, Healthcare Associated Infections

Deborah Burger, R.N.                                            March 29, 2015

Co-President

California Nurses Association

2000 Franklin Street

Oakland, CA 94612

 

Re: Workplace safety, Healthcare Associated Infections

Dear Ms. Burger,

 Thank you and your entire staff and membership of the California Nurses Association(CNA) for all that you do for others, especially our Veteran’s, I really appreciate it!

 As a pro-bono advocate for the prevention of Healthcare Associated Infections(HAI) in our Veteran’s Hospitals I signed your petition to support the California Nurses Association effort to gain proper protection for healthcare workers concerning Ebola protection nationwide.

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/page/s/national-nurses-united-urges-you-to-take-action-now?utm_source=nnu&utm_medium=upperbtn&utm_campaign=petition

Ebola is no longer in the headlines, last week I heard our local hospital board discuss the catastrophic consequences here in California of a reported(negative) Ebola case , perhaps some of the panic could have been alleviated should the proper protection been available?  

 As a pro-bono advocate for the prevention of HAI in our Veteran’s Hospitals I supported the successful organizing of our local Veteran’s Hospital, the impact of a collective voice should improve the situation in my humble opinion.

 

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/entry/san-diego-va-nurses-vote-by-78-to-join-largest-rn-union/

Also, the correlation of patient to R.N. has not escaped the attention of my advocacy, thank you for that as well.

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/issues/entry/ratios

Much like Ebola, in my humble opinion, HAI does not make the headlines very often, unlike Ebola, HAI , a preventable set of diseases, will needlessly cost thousands here in the state of California their life or limb this year, next year and every year after should it remain an acceptable cost of poor and very dangerous practices at our healthcare facilities, some of which in understaffing.

 How to help our Veterans, awareness is the key, the Association of Critical Care Nurses has set the standard for websites and focus.

   http://www.aacn.org/WD/HWE/Content/hwehome.content?menu=hwe   

The California Department of Public Health(CDPH), at times, has been an industry leader, supporter and resource for the prevention of HAI and your link to it included in your RN resource page is much appreciated. The  Honorable Governor has also commented on the catastrophic fiscal damage caused by HAI but unfortunately the lack of input concerning the resent HAI outbreak at U.C.L.A. medical highlighted the conflict of interest between the UC medical system and the CDPH. In my humble opinion, the CDPH is responsible for the prevention of preventable diseases, not protecting state assets, There efforts concerning the prevention of HAI have been dormant for a while now and I believe the CAN membership may well pay a price for their dormancy on the issue.

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/hai/Pages/HAIAdvisoryCommittee.aspx

 As noted, the CNA is pushing for positive change in our healthcare system and hopefully   you will continue to do so and should the CNA take a leadership role in the prevention of HAI, as a veteran, a rate payer and a tax payer, I would appreciate it very much, once again, “thank you”!

Best regards,

Michael H. Slavinski  

 

http://h-a-i-5.blogspot.com

California Wellness Plan 2014

Deborah Burger, R.N.                                            March 8, 2015

Co-President

California Nurses Association

2000 Franklin Street

Oakland, CA 94612

 

Re: California Wellness Plan 2014

 

Dear Ms. Burger,

 

 Once again thank you for all that you and the entire membership of the California Nurses Association (CNA) does to help others.

With all of the challenges facing healthcare today  it is easy to be a critical which always presents a challenge to my advocacy for the prevention of healthcare associated infections in our Veteran’s Hospitals. My time and resources are limited, your website section titled “Nurse Resources”  led me to the California Department of Public Health which in turn led me to the “California Wellness Plan 2014”, there we go, something positive, thank you for that!

 

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cdcb/Documents/CDPH-CAWellnessPlan2014%20(Agency%20Approved).FINAL.2-27-14(Protected).pdf

A big fan I was of “Let’s get Healthy California” along with the Honorable Governor Brown, the genesis of “California Wellness Plan 2014”, the potential of what healthcare could be in the State of California gives me hope for the care we could someday provide to our Veterans.

In my humble opinion programs like the “California Wellness Plan 2014” only exist if organizations like the CNA support them, our Veterans could use the help, perhaps someday healthcare associated infections will make the list, hopefully the next positive thing for me to write to you about.

 Once again, thank you!

Sincerely,

Michael H. Slavinski

 

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/pages/nursing-practice

 

http://h-a-i-5.blogspot.com

California Nurses Association: Workplace safety

Deborah Burger, R.N.                                            March 1, 2015

Co-President

California Nurses Association

2000 Franklin Street

Oakland, CA 94612

 

Re: workplace safety

 

Dear Ms. Burger,

 

 Please allow me to thank you and your membership at California Nurses Association(CNA) for all that you do to help others, I really appreciate it. My humble advocacy for the prevention of Healthcare Associate Infections(HAI) in our Veteran’s Hospitals has led me to the great work of the CNA concerning patient safety, supporting your efforts at the San Diego Veterans Healthcare System brought to light the value of a collective voice, thank you very much!

 Just the other day I was at a meeting which included senior nursing staff and clinicians at our community hospital concerning the proposed patient guide book, it has a focus on patient safety, including the identification of the value of hand washing, I asked the group “how do doctors respond when a patient asks if they washed their hands”, the response was, no comments, blank expressions.

 Bits and pieces I learn in support of our Veteran’s, what to do with what I learn is a challenge, I do know that the CAN is at our community hospital, they actually talk to me there, the Veteran’s do not.

 Your website is focusing more and more on patient and workplace safety, I really appreciate that.

How can the CNA help our Veteran’s in my humble opinion? Our community hospital would be a great example for the Veteran’s system to learn from as a HAI free facility and that can happen with the support of the CNA.

 Little do I know about the medical industry so my advocacy is dedicated to supporting those who help others and that would be you and your entire membership.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael H. Slavinski

 

Ps thank you for including the good work of the California Department of Public Health’s HAI program as a nurse resource on your website, I have been very impressed with their efforts concerning the prevention of HAI, the VA has access to their efforts as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To: The Board of Directors                                                   February 25, 2015

        Tri-City Medical Center-Administration

        4002 Vista Way

        Oceanside CA 92056                        

 

Re: Quality commitment

 

Dear Honorable Board of Directors,

 

 Please allow me to thank you and the entire staff at Tri-City Healthcare District(TCHD) for your commitment to provide safe and efficient healthcare to our community, I really appreciate it.

 Recently two comments from Honorable Board members give me hope for a bright future for healthcare, “what is preventing TCHD from becoming one of the top rated hospitals in the country” and “it would be good to add an extra board meeting to spend more time on quality issues”!

 TCHD, already is one of the top rated hospitals in the country says the Leap Frog Group, a consistent “A” quality rating speaks for its self in addition to numerous awards received from the Joint Commission.

   A new facility would be a good start but, as with other industries, anything less than a “holistic” approach to quality will always be challenged by entropy. Your financial commitment to providing quality care is clearly stated in recent investments but, in my humble opinion, “culture” should not be overlooked. Culture is easily identified, the question, “how do your fellow  staff members respond when a patient ask if they have washed their hands”. To clearly identify your interests, that question should be the first questions asked in any employment interview.

 Cedar-Siani, one of the safest facilities in the country, had a Healthcare Associated Infection(HAI) issue a few years ago, a comment from a doctor there, “HAI is un-acceptable at our facility”.  Adding the cost/waste associated with re-admissions and HAI occurrence to your monthly financial report should impact your investment strategies and theoretically improve your bottom line.

 HAI, thousands will lose life and limb in addition to the catastrophic fiscal damage in the state of California this year from a completely preventable set of diseases, our Veterans are not faring any better  due to staff members routinely get offended when asked if they have washed their hands.

 Can organized labor help create a safe work place, are the Fed’s in, how will the California Department of Public Health respond to your efforts to be one of the safest and efficient medical facilities in the country, hard to say but I would really like to find out and pass the information on to our Veteran’s care providers.

 Is there a need, time or support for more meetings concerning safety and efficiencies here at TCHD, that I would like to learn as well.

 Once again, thank you for all that you and the entire staff here at TCHD do for others, I really appreciate it!

 

Respectfully,

 

Michael H. Slavinski

 

 

http://h-a-i-5.blogspot.com/