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A message from Robin Roach, Director of Infection Control at Sparrow Health System
Patient Safety & Infection Control
We plan to provide the very best care possible for you and your family.
Infections can follow many types of medical procedures. This is especially true if you are having surgery. There are things you can do to help prevent infections while in the hospital:
- Wash your hands carefully after touching things. Especially after you go to the bathroom.
- Speak up. Do not be afraid to remind doctors and nurses to wash their hands before working with you.
- If possible, ask your friends and relatives not to visit if they feel ill.
- Ask questions. You and your family know your health problems the best. You make us better doctors and nurses when you ask questions.
- If you have an IV, keep the skin around the dressing clean and dry. Tell your nurse right away if the dressing works loose or gets wet. If you have a dressing on a wound, let your nurse know right away if it works loose or gets wet.
- If you have any type of catheter or tube, let your nurse know right away if it becomes loose or comes out.
- High blood sugar increases the risk of infection. If you have high blood sugar (diabetes) talk to your doctor about the best way to control your blood sugar during your hospital stay and when you go home.
- If you are overweight, losing weight will reduce the risk of infection following surgery.
- If you smoke, you should consider getting help to stop. This will reduce the chance of a lung infection while in the hospital. It will also improve your healing after surgery.
- Follow what your doctor tells you about breathing exercises and getting out of bed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are in pain, tell us so we can help!
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