Look Out World! Here They Come!

Congratulations to our new graduates - College of San Mateo Nursing School Class of 2013.  We are so proud of you!  And wow!  Check out those super-clean hands!

Wash Your Hands or Lose Your Job?

Imagine this.  It's 23:00 and time to start your shift in PICU.  Your first assignment is to check on a post-op patient and do a cath change.  Video cameras follow you and transmit images to a company in India where you are being watched.  Actually, not you so much as your hands.  You did de-germ, right?  You were thorough, yes?  You do want to keep your job, correct?.  

You know why.  Dirty hands kill patients.  According to the New York Times, it's also about controlling costs.  Like $30 Billion USD annually in the US alone.  Hospitals everywhere are experimenting with all types of methods to improve hand hygiene. 

Want to know more?  Check out the CDC site on Hand Hygiene.

Need more inspiration?  Watch these videos!

Treating Stroke Victims with Stem Cells

Experimental stem cell therapy at the University of Glasgow's Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology (Scotland) on 5 ischemic stroke patients seems to work, although it's still very early in the clinical trials.

All 5 patients exhibited - and sustained - reductions in neurological impairment and spasticity.  While the results were minor, small changes did impact the quality of life.  The more exciting news is the university has been given the go ahead to proceed with the next phases of the trail, called PISCES (Pilot Investigation of Stem Cells in Stroke).  This is the world's first regulated clinical trial for disabled stroke victims.

 

Picture courtesy of  Sky News

You can read more about this incredible medical advance at these links:

• From Sky News
• From University of Glasgow 1
• From University of Glasgow 2