Alfonzo Tramontano (pictured left) is reminding staff, patients and visitors that the best and simplest way to stop infection in its tracks is to wash hands with soap and water; and to use the gel dispensers available across the hospital - starting at the temporary front entrance.
"We treat over 60,000 in-patients on our wards every year and we have an excellent record," he comments.
"Year-on-year we have seen hospital acquired infections including Clostridium difficile and MRSA reduce - and we want to ensure we achieve our standards this year - but it is a real challenge.
"With the onset of winter and infections such as Norovirus (winter vomiting disease) and seasonal flu already rife in our communities, it's timely to remind people that cleaning hands really can save lives."
The trust has a high national rating for cleanliness and is regarded as a model of good practice by the Health Protection Agency, but is continually looking at ways to reduce the risk of all avoidable infections.
A case of MRSA recently has seen the trust make some more major changes to clinical practices on wards. Single use blood pressure cuffs are now used in high-risk areas; 200 bladeless Dyson fans have been purchased (MRSA bacteria was found to have survived in some fans at bedsides) and a new style cannula pack is set to be introduced next month.
The trust has also stepped up MRSA checks on hospital staff (about a third of the healthy population carry MRSA harmlessly on their skin or up their nose) and all high-risk patients coming in for surgery and emergency treatment are also swabbed for the infection. There is a simple course of medication that can be given to treat MRSA carried in this way.
"We are confident that we are doing all we can to prevent infection and the spread of infection," says 'Fonz'. "We are asking local people to support us by doing all they can as well - and by working together, we'll be successful."
As well as hand washing, the trust is asking people not to come and visit - or to come for appointments - if they have had any sort of diarrhoea and sickness. Anyone suffering from this type of infection should avoid public places until they have been free of symptoms for 72 hours.
2011年11月2日星期三
From the bench to the box
A retired San Luis Obispo Superior Court judge recently found himself in an unusual location in the courtroom — sitting in the jury box.
Attorneys arguing a civil trial chose retired Judge Christopher Money to serve on the jury, which goes against an unwritten rule among lawyers to never pick an attorney or judge to be on a jury.
Money said lawyers involved in trials often shy away from picking a judge or another lawyer for a jury because of perceptions about how they might apply the law.
Lawyers also sometimes fear a legal expert would become overbearing alongside other jurors who don’t have a background in law.
The recent civil case involved a dispute between a landlord and tenant over whether an inspection of a San Luis Obispo site was valid and didn’t break a contractual agreement.
Money said he was not the foreman and allowed his peers on the jury to conduct much of the discussion without saying too much. They came to a unanimous agreement in favor of the defendant after a two-week trial.
“I didn’t expect to be selected, but I’m glad I was because it gave me a different perspective than I had as a judge,” Money said. “I thought the jury did a tremendous job. They listened carefully and were very thorough in their deliberations.”
Susan Matherly, the county Superior Court’s executive officer, said she can’t recall a local judge serving on a jury in recent years, though she said nothing prohibits them from doing so.
Matherly said that when she worked in Los Angeles County’s court system, judges were occasionally picked for juries.
“It isn’t common, but it happens from time to time,” Matherly said.
Local lawyers Roy Ogden and Dennis Balsamo tried the recent lawsuit that concluded Friday before Judge Donald Umhofer in the Paso Robles court. Each felt Money could be a fair juror.
Each also could have removed him from a pool of more than 60 potential jurors by using a legal challenge that doesn’t require having cause.
“I relied on the strength of our case and felt Judge Money would be fair,” defense lawyer Ogden said. “He’s an intelligent guy and understands the law.”
Balsamo, attorney for the plaintiffs, said he thought Money would be “completely” fair in deliberations and that he might give other jurors some legal guidance if necessary.
“I didn’t think his presence would be more or less beneficial,” Balsamo said. “… I’m not happy with the jury’s decision, but I respect it.”
Money said he was happy to spend time in the “beautiful courthouse” in Paso Robles and said the experience taught him that “juries pick up on things quickly and lawyers don’t need to repeat points several times they often think they need to go over.”
A jury returned a verdict last week favoring landlord DW August Co. in a case that involved a school leasing property from the company in San Luis Obispo.
The lawsuit’s allegations included trespassing and invasion of privacy.
The owner of the Laureate School in San Luis Obispo, Eucasia Schools Worldwide, claimed the plaintiff cut a chain across the parking lot and entered the school without permission from school officials by way of a locksmith making a new set of master keys.
The lawsuit also alleged DW August accessed the plaintiff’s computer system, looked at papers, “maliciously” switched telephone and fax wires, and failed to secure a rear door, leaving the school’s confidential student and employee records unsecured, according to court documents.
The trial lasted two weeks and no money was awarded to the plaintiffs after a verdict came back Friday, according to Roy Ogden, who defended DW August. Plaintiff attorney Dennis Balsamo said he didn’t want to discuss details of the case.
Attorneys arguing a civil trial chose retired Judge Christopher Money to serve on the jury, which goes against an unwritten rule among lawyers to never pick an attorney or judge to be on a jury.
Money said lawyers involved in trials often shy away from picking a judge or another lawyer for a jury because of perceptions about how they might apply the law.
Lawyers also sometimes fear a legal expert would become overbearing alongside other jurors who don’t have a background in law.
The recent civil case involved a dispute between a landlord and tenant over whether an inspection of a San Luis Obispo site was valid and didn’t break a contractual agreement.
Money said he was not the foreman and allowed his peers on the jury to conduct much of the discussion without saying too much. They came to a unanimous agreement in favor of the defendant after a two-week trial.
“I didn’t expect to be selected, but I’m glad I was because it gave me a different perspective than I had as a judge,” Money said. “I thought the jury did a tremendous job. They listened carefully and were very thorough in their deliberations.”
Susan Matherly, the county Superior Court’s executive officer, said she can’t recall a local judge serving on a jury in recent years, though she said nothing prohibits them from doing so.
Matherly said that when she worked in Los Angeles County’s court system, judges were occasionally picked for juries.
“It isn’t common, but it happens from time to time,” Matherly said.
Local lawyers Roy Ogden and Dennis Balsamo tried the recent lawsuit that concluded Friday before Judge Donald Umhofer in the Paso Robles court. Each felt Money could be a fair juror.
Each also could have removed him from a pool of more than 60 potential jurors by using a legal challenge that doesn’t require having cause.
“I relied on the strength of our case and felt Judge Money would be fair,” defense lawyer Ogden said. “He’s an intelligent guy and understands the law.”
Balsamo, attorney for the plaintiffs, said he thought Money would be “completely” fair in deliberations and that he might give other jurors some legal guidance if necessary.
“I didn’t think his presence would be more or less beneficial,” Balsamo said. “… I’m not happy with the jury’s decision, but I respect it.”
Money said he was happy to spend time in the “beautiful courthouse” in Paso Robles and said the experience taught him that “juries pick up on things quickly and lawyers don’t need to repeat points several times they often think they need to go over.”
A jury returned a verdict last week favoring landlord DW August Co. in a case that involved a school leasing property from the company in San Luis Obispo.
The lawsuit’s allegations included trespassing and invasion of privacy.
The owner of the Laureate School in San Luis Obispo, Eucasia Schools Worldwide, claimed the plaintiff cut a chain across the parking lot and entered the school without permission from school officials by way of a locksmith making a new set of master keys.
The lawsuit also alleged DW August accessed the plaintiff’s computer system, looked at papers, “maliciously” switched telephone and fax wires, and failed to secure a rear door, leaving the school’s confidential student and employee records unsecured, according to court documents.
The trial lasted two weeks and no money was awarded to the plaintiffs after a verdict came back Friday, according to Roy Ogden, who defended DW August. Plaintiff attorney Dennis Balsamo said he didn’t want to discuss details of the case.
2011年4月24日星期日
Stephanie Mlot
Hell hath no fury like a bicyclist or pedestrian scorned, the federal government has learned this month.
On April 1, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials responded to a U.S. Department of Transportation request for a review of current regulations deemed "outmoded, ineffective, insufficient or excessively burdensome."
The action followed President Barack Obama's call earlier this year for federal agencies to review their rules, AASHTO Director of Communications Lloyd Brown wrote in an email. After input from the 50 states, the organization submitted its list.
Among the apparently back-breaking laws: the Bicycle and Pedestrian Provisions of Federal Transportation Legislation, a clause that intends to keep bicyclists and pedestrians in the loop regarding comprehensive transportation plans developed by local and state planning organizations.
The existing Federal Highway Administration regulation states that bicycle transportation facilities and walkways shall be considered, where appropriate, except where bicycle and pedestrian use is not permitted.
It also calls for citizens to be given "due consideration," when appropriate, in conjunction with new construction and reconstruction.
"We have no problem with this requirement," Brown wrote.
Instead, what AASHTO does object to is the Department of Transportation guidance that goes beyond what is called for in the law. Said guidance states that "accommodation must be provided except in extreme circumstances." According to Brown, this is actually a much more expansive requirement, considering states must prove exceptional circumstances when not providing for bicyclists and pedestrians as part of a highway project.
The solution: the Federal Highway Administration rescind its guidance on the meaning of "due consideration."
"Our intent in making the request ... is to reduce the effort and paperwork required to justify why bicycle or pedestrian facilities may or may not be appropriate on a given federal aid project," Brown wrote.
While the letter and additional comments serve simply as a recommendation to the Department of Transportation for modification or elimination, outraged bicycle and pedestrian organizations have stepped into the ring for a fight.
An April 15 reply to AASHTO from the National Center for Biking and Walking asks the federal organization to explain why two groups of transportation users, who are overrepresented in fatalities and injuries, and underrepresented in funding, "are not deemed worthy of safe accommodation in our transportation system."
The League of American Bicyclists stepped into the ring on April 14, when a league member posted a blog entry calling AASHTO's request "misguided," at a time when cities are building entire bicycling networks that provide people with work and benefit businesses.
"This is not a time to move backwards," the league's Darren Flusche wrote. "AASHTO should be a leading voice in shaping holistic and comprehensive transportation systems."
The league is calling for help locally by asking that disgruntled citizens use its advocacy center, located on the Web at www.capwiz.com/lab/home, to ask state Department of Transportation heads to contact AASHTO President Susan Martinovich with complaints.
As of Wednesday, no Frederick bicycle or pedestrian groups had joined the challenge.
Road closure
- Bowman's Farm Road will be closed between the Motor Vehicle Administration parking lot entrance and the end of Bowman Farm Road at the cul-de-sac, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 30 and May 1 for the Soap Box Derby Races.
On April 1, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials responded to a U.S. Department of Transportation request for a review of current regulations deemed "outmoded, ineffective, insufficient or excessively burdensome."
The action followed President Barack Obama's call earlier this year for federal agencies to review their rules, AASHTO Director of Communications Lloyd Brown wrote in an email. After input from the 50 states, the organization submitted its list.
Among the apparently back-breaking laws: the Bicycle and Pedestrian Provisions of Federal Transportation Legislation, a clause that intends to keep bicyclists and pedestrians in the loop regarding comprehensive transportation plans developed by local and state planning organizations.
The existing Federal Highway Administration regulation states that bicycle transportation facilities and walkways shall be considered, where appropriate, except where bicycle and pedestrian use is not permitted.
It also calls for citizens to be given "due consideration," when appropriate, in conjunction with new construction and reconstruction.
"We have no problem with this requirement," Brown wrote.
Instead, what AASHTO does object to is the Department of Transportation guidance that goes beyond what is called for in the law. Said guidance states that "accommodation must be provided except in extreme circumstances." According to Brown, this is actually a much more expansive requirement, considering states must prove exceptional circumstances when not providing for bicyclists and pedestrians as part of a highway project.
The solution: the Federal Highway Administration rescind its guidance on the meaning of "due consideration."
"Our intent in making the request ... is to reduce the effort and paperwork required to justify why bicycle or pedestrian facilities may or may not be appropriate on a given federal aid project," Brown wrote.
While the letter and additional comments serve simply as a recommendation to the Department of Transportation for modification or elimination, outraged bicycle and pedestrian organizations have stepped into the ring for a fight.
An April 15 reply to AASHTO from the National Center for Biking and Walking asks the federal organization to explain why two groups of transportation users, who are overrepresented in fatalities and injuries, and underrepresented in funding, "are not deemed worthy of safe accommodation in our transportation system."
The League of American Bicyclists stepped into the ring on April 14, when a league member posted a blog entry calling AASHTO's request "misguided," at a time when cities are building entire bicycling networks that provide people with work and benefit businesses.
"This is not a time to move backwards," the league's Darren Flusche wrote. "AASHTO should be a leading voice in shaping holistic and comprehensive transportation systems."
The league is calling for help locally by asking that disgruntled citizens use its advocacy center, located on the Web at www.capwiz.com/lab/home, to ask state Department of Transportation heads to contact AASHTO President Susan Martinovich with complaints.
As of Wednesday, no Frederick bicycle or pedestrian groups had joined the challenge.
Road closure
- Bowman's Farm Road will be closed between the Motor Vehicle Administration parking lot entrance and the end of Bowman Farm Road at the cul-de-sac, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 30 and May 1 for the Soap Box Derby Races.
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