Arizona

One Thing That Can Cut Hospital Infections In Half

September 25, 2015

Nearly 100,000 people die a year from infections contracted from hospitals. These infections affect 1 out of every 25 patients and are incredibly dangerous for immune-deficient cancer patients as well. These unnecessary illnesses cost the healthcare system up to $33 billion in healthcare costs. These unnecessary infections also can lead to substantial personal injury litigation and medical malpractice claims.

With such a financial strain and far too many lives being lost due to hospital infections, the Department of Defense held clinical trials to find whether copper could be a lifesaving alloy in hospitals.

In 2013, the Department of Defense funded clinical trials of an antimicrobial copper that could prevent infections in commonly touched hospital surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and bed rails. The trials found that antimicrobial copper was naturally a killer of bacteria, reducing infections by more than fifty percent. Copper’s conductive properties help weaken bacteria on contact eventually killing it over a short amount of time.

Though the price for replacing stainless steel with antimicrobial copper is high the Affordable Care Act offers reimbursements to hospitals to help reduce patient infections.

These types of trials and investments protect you from infections when you are at your most vulnerable and Torgenson Law completely supports the work being done to protect the public, limiting unnecessary personal injury cases and leading to patient health and safety.

Call Torgenson Law to Schedule a Free Consultation

If your doctor or nurse was negligent in your care during your stay at a hospital, call Torgenson Law today at (602) 726-0747. You will need aggressive medical malpractice lawyers ready to fight for you.