However, at far too many hospitals in the country, preventing these infections continues to be a challenge. According to a new survey conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), these infections continue to be a major challenge in the facility where they work.

In the report, APIC President Cathryn Murphy sites that bloodstream infections from catheters are preventable with clear, actionable steps. According to Murphy, some hospitals have dropped their infections rates to zero. She shares the frustration that some hospitals still have difficulty avoiding these infections.

It is estimated that 80,000 U.S. patients develop catheter-related bloodstream infections each year. Of those, nearly 30,000 die. This accounts for close to a third of the 99,000 yearly deaths that result from healthcare-associated infections. The average cost for treating a patient with this type of infection can exceed $30,000. The total annual cost to the U.S. healthcare system is more than $2 billion.

Obviously, whatever is going on here is far too complex to encapsulate in a single blog post. It seems like more hospitals are taking measures to prevent central line-related bloodstream infections in hospitals, but these are not being as effective as hoped. Training of medical care staff, especially nurses and support staff, is a big part of preventing these infections, and it looks like many hospitals still struggle on this front. All the most well-intentioned policies in the world won't matter, if your staff isn't willing to, or is unable to, implement these practices at the grassroots level.

The researchers found that a black person had a 67% higher chance of being hospitalized with severe sepsis, than a white person. Not only that, these severe infections also contributed to blacks having an 80% higher chance of dying from sepsis, than their white counterparts. Among black persons, the rate of severe sepsis that required hospitalization was 9.4 for every 1,000 population, while for white persons, it was 5.6 for every 1,000 population.

Besides, certain factors like income levels, household size, smoking and alcohol consumption have been found to impact general infection rates. The researchers believe that these general infections increase the person’s chances of contracting sepsis infections.

The researchers recommend some steps that will help reduce sepsis infection rates among blacks. It could help if vaccination programs, especially those for respiratory infections, could be targeted harder at young blacks. Black patients may also benefit from better management of their chronic kidney disease, diabetes and other conditions that contribute to the risk of sepsis infection.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows high infection control deficiencies at these centers. The CDC surveyed 68 ambulatory surgical centers in three different states. The agency was basically looking at how these centers complied with hand hygiene, environmental cleaning standards and injection safety.

So, why should Indiana medical malpractice lawyers be so concerned about high infection control deficiencies at these ambulatory surgical centers? The answer lies in the fact that an overwhelming majority of surgical procedures these days are conducted at these outpatient surgical centers. In fact, more than 75% of surgical procedures take place at these centers.

There are other reasons to worry too. The numbers of such outpatient surgical centers are increasing rapidly across the country. These rates increased by 8.3% every year from 1999 to 2005. Also, the actual rates of infection deficiencies at the centers could be higher because there are no federal standards for infection reporting. It's highly possible that most infections that are contracted at the centers, are not reported.

This is a worrisome situation when you consider how many patients choose to have their procedures in these centers. The Las Vegas endoscopy center infection crisis of 2008 springs to mind – 40,000 people were exposed to the hepatitis and HIV viruses in that case. The facility had not been inspected for at least seven years. Syringes were re-used used blatantly, leading to at least half a dozen confirmed cases of Hepatitis C, originating from the center. In the context of the CDC study, it’s prudent to ask how many more centers are flouting safety rules nationwide.

The most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics indicate that boating while under the influence is still the leading factor in fatal boating accidents. Nearly 17% of boating fatalities are a direct result of alcohol or drug use. Alcohol and water fun does not mix. Detecting and stopping boaters who operate under the influence of alcohol and drugs is an important step to ensuring the safety to all who enjoy the rivers and lakes.

Our firm believes that Indiana residents should enjoy their free time and their holidays in safety. We applaud the NASBLA’s efforts to help keep our waterways safe and encourage every Indiana resident to do their part to ensure a safe and enjoyable summer.

There are definitely more senior citizens driving today than in the past, but they are not contributing to more accidents, nor are they being fatally injured in accidents at a greater rate. If anything, accident and fatality rates for senior citizens are actually showing a downward trend. Fatal accident rates involving elderly drivers have dropped by as much as 37% over the past decade. In the case of drivers above the age of 80 - those you would think would have the most diminished driving abilities - fatal accident rates have dropped by as much as 47%.

But when it comes to an elderly driver in your own family, we've all been there. It's difficult not to be concerned when a 70-year-old family member sets off in the car. You don't want to be hyper cautious, and demand that he/she hand over the keys. On the other hand, you also want to keep your eyes open for any signs of deteriorating driving skills.

As Indiana accident lawyers, we would encourage families of elderly motorists to look out for the following warning signs:
• Signs of dementia
• Vision problems
• Increasing hearing loss
• Aggressiveness
• Growing impulsiveness
• Stubbornness
• Markedly slowing reflexes

When a loved one returns from a drive, check the car for minor dents and scratches that could indicate diminishing driving skills. Also, note the time he/she takes for an errand or a drive. If he/she is taking a long time to get back home, it could be a sign of impending trouble.

In spite of this, there are few or no restrictions on the kind of foods that you can allow a three or four-year-old child to have. In contrast, there are a number of barriers between a child and a small toy, or a toy with detachable parts. This is in spite of the fact that many of the small toys that are believed to be a choking hazard, like small balls, are shaped and sized exactly like foods that can cause serious harm to a child, like gumdrops.

Pediatricians, parents and Indiana product liability lawyers have always known that certain foods increase the risks of choking. These include popcorn, peanuts, marshmallows and fish with bones.

However, it's not rare to find parents offering their two or three-year-old child these foods. Fatal incidents involving children choking on popcorn or gumdrops have been reported from around the country. A few years ago, 17 children in the US died from choking on gelatin-based candy that they were supposed to suck from a small plastic cup. The candy has since been banned. As Indiana product liability attorneys, we remain concerned that there are more products out there that pose the same choking hazard to children, but whose safety risks have gone neglected by federal authorities.

Calls for warning labels on foods are usually greeted with laughter. There will be those who say that parents are the best judges of what their children should eat. However, the fact is that many parents are not even aware that their child could easily choke on something like a peanut on a popcorn kernel. It's only when they're in the hospital watching doctors resuscitate their child, that they realize these foods were not meant to be given to their child.

First, the agency is in the process of finalizing technological devices that can help prevent rear-ender tractor-trailer accidents. These accidents kill 165 people in the country every year, and injure more than 1,600 more. The agency is considering lighting systems that will alert approaching motorists to the tractor-trailer.

The second major technological development the FMCSA is in the process of finalizing, is an online system to prevent Commercial Driver's License fraud. This continues to be a major problem across the country. In fact, the incidence of serious licensing fraud has been a concern during the recession, with fly-by-night truck driver training schools cropping up across the country, and luring unemployed Americans to the prospect of quick and easy CDL's.

There is no such thing as a quick and easy CDL. The FMCSA realizes this, and has developed a system through which all CDL testing will be conducted. All results are computerized, and there are checks on testing variations. A single examiner conducting an abnormally high number of tests in a single day, for instance, could suggest fraud. The system will be wired to catch such instances.

These are two more of the steps the FMCSA is taking to keep both truck drivers and motorists safer, and as the year progresses, we hope to see more such developments.

The first question - how does the industry plan to deal with a looming truck driver shortage that threatens as the recession ends?

The second question is linked to the first - will a driver shortfall mean that there will be more older, and thus less safe, truckers, on the highways?

Last week, several trucking groups and Reuters reported that as the recession loosens its grip on the trucking industry, there will be more opportunities in other areas for young men who would otherwise have turned to trucking. Historically, a good economy means more opportunities for potential trucking candidates.

Experts are already concerned that there could be a massive shortfall of more than 180,000 truckers this year alone. That shortfall is expected to increase to 500,000 by next year. With possibly fewer young drivers joining the profession, the industry could find itself with more drivers over 60, operating these massive rigs.

Truckers insist that isn't a cause for concern. They point out the fact that older drivers may be more experienced and cautious, compared to aggressive, younger drivers. While that may be true, there are other issues that concern an Indiana truck accident attorney. For one thing, the physiological effects of aging may impact a person’s trucking abilities. Aging can affect a person's vision, eyesight and reflexes.

Additionally, older drivers are more likely to be on prescription medication, for diseases like hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Certain medications like those for hypertension, include drowsiness as one of their side effects. Besides, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration does not mandate that truck drivers above a certain age, get special tests done before they renew their Commercial Driver’s License.

Being a competent, able and alert driver is important when you’re driving any vehicle, but especially more so when you’re driving a massive rig that weighs up to 80,000 pounds. A generation of older truckers at the wheel could be a safety issue as we move into the next decade.

Last month, Huffington Post carried a report on how the shift to electronic medical records is being accompanied by increasing numbers of errors. According to data from the Food and Drug Administration, there have been scores of reports of adverse incidents resulting from the use of the electronic systems.

The Huffington Post Investigative Fund found approximately 237 adverse incident reports related to the use of electronic systems, but it is highly likely that these are just the tip of the iceberg.

Health professionals are only voluntarily required to provide error data to the FDA. The FDA itself is not adequately equipped to track errors occurring from the use of such technology.
It's not just training issues that plague the shift to electronic records. Since December, the FDA has received 18 adverse incident reports involving one manufacturer who sells electronic record systems.

These reports involve problems with non user-friendly interfaces, hard-to-read computer screens, small font sizes, and other issues.

Everyone seems to agree that the shift to electronic record systems is ultimately good for patient safety. However, as Indiana medical malpractice lawyers, we believe that the move towards electronic records should be combined with the right kind of error-free technology, and specialized staff training to prevent the errors that the systems were designed to prevent in the first place.

And why not? There are far too many incentives for Hoosiers not to take to bicycling. Biking helps save precious dollars on gas, and reduces your carbon footprint. With a massive oil blob the size of Delaware inching towards the Louisiana coastline, the need for promoting eco-friendly means of transportation is clearer than ever. Besides, with health experts warning of an obesity epidemic continuing into future generations of Americans, biking is a healthy lifestyle choice more Hoosiers should be encouraged to make.

The high point of the month is Bike to Work Day. Several communities across Indiana are marking the day with employers encouraging staff to bike to work. Check out the Bicycle Indiana website to look for a Bike to Work Day event near you. Also, look up the League of American Bicyclists website to look for bicycle safety and other promotional events in areas outside of Indianapolis.

As Indiana bicycle accident attorneys, we encourage motorists to use this month to learn more about bicyclists, the unique challenges they face on our roads, the benefits and joys of bicycling, and how thousands of bikers in Indiana help keep our roads clearer, and our planet greener.
• Look for bicyclists when you're driving. A bicyclist can be easy to miss because of the bike’s narrow size.
• Never taunt, tease or yell at a bicyclist.
• Give a bicyclist at least 3 feet of space when you pass by.
• Avoid honking loudly when you pass a biker. It may not only scare the biker, but it could also cause the biker to lose control of his/her bicycle with serious consequences.

Ultimately, remember that the roads are not meant for motorists alone. There are other people, including bicyclists and pedestrians, who use these, and have as many rights and privileges as motorists do.

As Indiana personal injury attorneys, we believe visibility is of utmost importance for any bicycle rider. The ability to see potential dangers and to be seen by automobile and truck drivers can prevent serious injuries for the bike rider.

2. Get a light. A cyclist should never ride at night without proper lighting for their bike. The rider should purchase a headlight and a rear light for the bike. These illuminations can make it possible for drivers of two-ton vehicles to see a single bicycle on a dark street. Even during day rides, lighting is essential equipment for safety.

3. Wear a reflective vest. A reflective vest can increase the visibility of a rider up to a ½ mile away, even in daylight conditions. The new technology of reflective safety vests can offer an inexpensive option of visibility for riders.

4. Use a mirror. The ability to see traffic that is coming from behind is critical to a rider’s safety. Knowing the surroundings in front and behind can inform the rider’s decisions when it comes to turns and traffic flow.

5. Choose streets that are wide, slow and lightly traveled whenever possible. Traveling back streets is a wise decision that will decrease a bicyclist’s risk of injury. If the flow of traffic speed is decreased, if there is more room for the bike and motorized traffic and if there are fewer cars, the cyclist can ride in relative safety, even if it does result in a few extra miles.

6. Signal Your Intent. We expect cars and trucks to use their turn signals to inform other traffic of their turns. Bike riders should practice the same habit. Using arm signals, the bike rider can signal automotive traffic of their expectation.

7. Look for opening car doors. When driving on the open road, bike riders must always be aware that parked cars might have occupants who might exit the vehicle. If they haven’t looked through their side view mirror, they will be unaware of oncoming bicyclists. It is the bike rider’s responsibility to look for upcoming dangers, including an unexpected sudden car door.

8. Watch for turning vehicles. Intersections offer the most dangerous situation for any bicycle rider. Many times, impatient drivers of cars and trucks assume the cyclist will offer the right of way and turn into the rider. An aware bicycle rider will look for automotive signals and flow of traffic to avoid collisions.