If you read nothing else...

Today’s Post-Standard reports that more than 200 Central New Yorkers probably died as a result of hospital acquired infections in 2004. The number comes from Excellus BlueCross BlueSheild, which made the estimate “based on data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other sources.”

I have previously posted comments about hospitals and infections, including Community General Hospital’s own infection rates and recent efforts to improve hand hygiene compliance. See: All fish swim in the same water, Weird glowing substances, A tale of two cities.

If you read nothing else, A tipping point deserves your attention. It contains the obituary of a Canadian gentleman who died as the result of a hospital-acquired infection. Please read it all the way through.