I am going to have major surgery in Memphis next month. A friend of mine died from an infection after surgery. Is there any way to protect myself from the same fate?

Yes, there are several things you can do, both before you enter the hospital and once you are there. With the resources and technology available to health care professionals these days, there is almost no conceivable reason for patients to suffer a hospital-acquired infection in today’s hospitals.

Before your surgery:

Find out the hospital’s infection rate. This information is required and public in Tennessee. There are many online sources to use. Consumer Reports and the Tennessee Department of Health are two sources for this information.
Ask your surgeon what his or her infection rate is. This information is not only available; it is your right to know.

When you enter the hospital:

Ask hospital staff and visitors to disinfect their hands before touching you.
Make sure your doctors are cleaning the flat surface with alcohol before using a stethoscope.
Be sure you are given an antibiotic before surgery.
If you must have a urinary tract catheter, ask to have it removed as soon as possible. Sometimes this device is unnecessary and used to save the staff from taking you to the bathroom.
If you have an IV, be sure it is inserted and removed under sanitary conditions and changed every 3-4 days. If you notice any redness, call for help immediately.

At Bailey & Greer, we know how scary facing a surgery can be, and we serve as Tennessee medical malpractice representatives for those who are injured through hospital-acquired infections. Hopefully the family of your deceased friend has chosen to hold the hospital responsible for its actions.