I am not a complainer. Those of you who follow me on FB and Twitter know this. But this morning I am both concerned for my granddaughter, the other children in care around her, and very, very angry with the New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York. It has been reported to me that the infection in her bloodstream is from the central line that was removed in an unsterile manner, an act her parents had questioned as the person removing it did not use a mask. This was the culmination of several incidents where Mackenzie’s cure’s parents had to remind personnel just to wash their hands. YES, REALLY, to wash their hands. In a hospital. Around a post-surgical patient with active drains. Really.
Here’s what I randomly observed the second day that Kenzie was out of ICU and on a regular floor. A nurse that had cared for Kenzie her 1st day on the floor stopped at another child’s room, one that was across from the small family lounge where I was sitting and talking on the phone. Now, all the nurses and visitors I had watched enter that room both before and after this moment had observed isolation precautions before walking into the room: washing, foaming, wearing the sterile gown, stripping off afterward, etc. All the things I would expect. This day, the nurse in question stopped at the door of the room when the child in isolation called out. After a couple of questions, the nurse determined that the child was asking her to come and deal with a beeping IV machine. The nurse looked to her right, and then to her left. There was no on else in the hall. I can only guess that she had forgotten me, sitting right behind her. She then walked into the room without any precautions, gowning, etc. fiddled with the IV, chatted with the child, and then exited the room. At no point did she wash or foam or do anything that would normally be required. I have to wonder why that child needed infection precautions and how many patients this nurse spread the germs to at that point. Hmm. With this manner of infection control is it any wonder that our Kenzie gets sick shortly after her central line is removed and the day before her discharge?
But, the story goes deeper than this. Yesterday, My granddaughter was moved to an isolation room as an infection control measure. Good, right? Not really. This morning we learned that the room had not been cleaned from the previous patient. Yep, that’s right, no cleaning before Kenzie was moved to the room. What else has she now been exposed to at this hospital?
Quick point before I move on: We followed a great doctor here when he moved his practice. I do not believe he had any knowledge of practices on the floor as this was only his 2nd or 3rd surgery at this hospital. And right now, Cindy, a nurse who has been on top of things any time she was in charge, has been doing a great job of making sure sterile procedures are being followed. We are not condemning all nurses, etc. Unfortunately the horse has left the barn and only now the door is being shut….
So, why am I telling you this? Because I want three outcomes here, outcomes that we might be able to get by sharing, tweeting, etc.
1. I want Mackenzie on a medical flight to another children’s hospital of her parents’ choosing, and paid for by the hospital.
2. I want immediate, hospital-wide training and changes on infection control at Morgan Stanley Children’s in NYC.
3. I want other parents of currently hospitalized children at this hospital to be aware of the risks and to watch carefully for infection control procedures. Another child should not have to suffer this nightmare.
Will you help me get these changes made by sharing and tweeting this post?
So how did I get the idea? Am I just fascinated with cannibals? No, not really. The idea for The Doctor’s Mission literally walked in my fron door one evening in the guise of a visit from one of my married children. As kids piled in the door, my daughter handed me a small paperback authored by my son-in-law’s great-great uncle. It had a rather provocative title, Before We Kill and Eat You. This book, the story of pioneering missionary, H. B. Garlock and his wife Ruth, sat on my dining room table for months before I picked it up and finally read it. 
Peggy - This is the very least of protocol that should be followed. It’s not NEW requirements. The very least we expect is people providing health care, especially for children, follow protocol.
Seriously!?!
Debbi - I hate to say that I have seen this at many hospitals. I have done a few things when I notice it…tell a supervisor, write it on a comment card or survey and post it on their websit. I hope your granddaughter is doing better. I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at the lunchon as I will be at your table