There is compelling news this week that the national effort to reduce healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs) is working. The report from the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) infection tracking system, the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), contains data from more than 11,500 healthcare facilities.

The use of diagnostic imaging like CT and PET scans is an essential part of modern medicine for both diagnosis and treatment. Radiation, when delivered in the right dose, can be very effective. A CT scan, for example, can help doctors see cross-sectional images of the patient’s bones and soft tissues and reveal internal bleeding, tumor location, blood clot and infection. To achieve these images, CT scans expose patients to much more radiation than a standard X-ray. Recent studies have raised questions about how multiple scans might be disadvantageous if not absolutely necessary. HCA set out to address this issue… Read more.

On Wednesday, May 9, at around 11:30 am EST, a German tourist, was bitten by a shark in Vero Beach, Fla. Thanks to the quick action of local lifeguards and other rescue workers, she received help at the beach until being flown to trauma center Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. Thankfully, after surgery, she was able to recover. We often speak of “the golden hour” after an emergency event as being the most crucial Dr. James Hurst, Professor of Surgery at University of South Florida and USF/HCA Trauma Network Medical Director puts it this way: “The golden hour for a trauma… Read more.

Today, I am pleased to announce the release of a checklist created by senior leaders and CEO’s from 11 health systems, including HCA—under the auspices of the Institute of Medicine (IOM)—to promote high-value healthcare. The CEO Checklist for High-Value Health Care provides ten strategies to help hospitals reduce waste and improve patient outcomes, and we are honored to be a contributor. The creation of the checklist comes during an important time for healthcare. Increasingly, those who purchase healthcare are seeking providers that deliver high-value care, and we at HCA understand that there’s a business case for providing high quality, efficient care.… Read more.

National Hospital Week celebrates the institutions that foster health and bring hope as well as the caregivers who bring knowledge, skills, and caring to the patients were privileged to serve. We hope the infographic below helps illustrate the many roles hospitals and caregivers play. Please join us in celebrating the special institutions and caring individuals.

March 4– 10 is Patient Safety Awareness Week, a national education and awareness-building campaign started by the National Patient Safety Foundation focused on improving patient safety.  During this week, we will highlight our commitment to patient safety in the communities we serve. The info-graphic below illustrates 5 ways patients and healthcare providers (like doctors and nurses) can partner to make care safe. For example, did you know that patients are key members of the care team, and are encouraged to speak up if they have questions or concerns? Learn more below.

What if you could replace a heart valve through a small incision in the leg? Aortic valve replacement surgery often requires opening the chest to expose the valve that needs to be replaced due to narrowing of the aorta (Aortic Stenosis). 300,000 people in the U.S. have Aortic Stenosis and 100,000 of those are not candidates for open heart surgery. So their options were few and their prognosis grim. But thanks to a new procedure, called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) there is hope. TAVR allows a surgeon to replace the aortic valve by inserting a catheter to open the… Read more.

This past Wednesday, in Washington, D.C., HCA was recognized at a press conference called by the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services for our work

Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. February is American Heart Month which means it’s a good time to get to know the facts about heart disease. Below is an info-graphic that highlights some statistics that might surprise you. For example, did you know that most heart attacks occur in the morning?

Is your hospital doing everything it can to practice patient safety when it comes to the flu? In the video below, our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Perlin, discusses our flu vaccine policy for employees.   Download transcript [pdf]