Comments on: How to tell doctors to wash their hands http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Greg Phttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html#comment-79669 Greg P Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:18:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html#comment-79669 One of the problems here is that it's all part of the blaming exercise we are encouraged to adopt.<br/><br/>There is no doubt that physicians need to more publicly show handwashing/sanitizing.<br/><br/>There is also no doubt that everyone, including the patient's families also need to be more mindful of their own cleanliness.<br/><br/>I would like to see someone do a study showing how we live in a sea of bacteria, rather than focusing on ties or phones or whatever. We cannot sanitize the world. About all we can do is to frequently sanitize our hands. One of the problems here is that it’s all part of the blaming exercise we are encouraged to adopt.

There is no doubt that physicians need to more publicly show handwashing/sanitizing.

There is also no doubt that everyone, including the patient’s families also need to be more mindful of their own cleanliness.

I would like to see someone do a study showing how we live in a sea of bacteria, rather than focusing on ties or phones or whatever. We cannot sanitize the world. About all we can do is to frequently sanitize our hands.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html#comment-79653 Anonymous Tue, 28 Aug 2007 03:46:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html#comment-79653 I always wash my hands in front of patients before examining them. <br/><br/>Other possible replies: <br/><br/><br/><br/>"Yes, and you will need to wash your underwear after I give you this news"<br/><br/>"Yes, but that last patient with the projectile emesis really did a number on my tie"<br/><br/>"Yes, but due to my busy call night I did not have time to wash anything else, so hold your nose" I always wash my hands in front of patients before examining them.

Other possible replies:

“Yes, and you will need to wash your underwear after I give you this news”

“Yes, but that last patient with the projectile emesis really did a number on my tie”

“Yes, but due to my busy call night I did not have time to wash anything else, so hold your nose”

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html#comment-79650 Anonymous Tue, 28 Aug 2007 03:30:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html#comment-79650 No, I haven't washed my hands. Because if I washed my hands 20 times a day using crappy hospital soap I would have no hands left. What I have done is use alcohol disinfectant which is usually better anyway.<br/><br/>And besides, who's actually going to say "No, I didn't wash my hands" even if they didn't? Dollars to donuts the response is a reflexive "sure, yeah, whatever". No, I haven’t washed my hands. Because if I washed my hands 20 times a day using crappy hospital soap I would have no hands left. What I have done is use alcohol disinfectant which is usually better anyway.

And besides, who’s actually going to say “No, I didn’t wash my hands” even if they didn’t? Dollars to donuts the response is a reflexive “sure, yeah, whatever”.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html#comment-79646 Anonymous Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:32:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html#comment-79646 My workplace is going into overdrive about this pandemic flu threat. <br/><br/>We've gotten emails about how to sneeze properly. <br/><br/>Today I got a soda in the cafeteria and the cashier said would I wait a moment. She'd used a kleenex and needed to rub the hand sanitizer on her hands before giving me change. <br/><br/>I think you can't over estimate the value of raising awareness. My workplace is going into overdrive about this pandemic flu threat.

We’ve gotten emails about how to sneeze properly.

Today I got a soda in the cafeteria and the cashier said would I wait a moment. She’d used a kleenex and needed to rub the hand sanitizer on her hands before giving me change.

I think you can’t over estimate the value of raising awareness.

]]> By: Paulhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html#comment-79647 Paul Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:32:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/how-to-tell-doctors-to-wash-their-hands.html#comment-79647 Er, if a medical professional won't wash their hands before seeing a patient, I think there are bigger issues than saying wash your hands in a nice manner. Er, if a medical professional won’t wash their hands before seeing a patient, I think there are bigger issues than saying wash your hands in a nice manner.

]]>