ENTtoday
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • Practice Focus
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Departments
    • Issue Archive
    • TRIO Best Practices
      • Allergy
      • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
      • Head and Neck
      • Laryngology
      • Otology/Neurotology
      • Pediatric
      • Rhinology
      • Sleep Medicine
    • Career Development
    • Case of the Month
    • Everyday Ethics
    • Health Policy
    • Legal Matters
    • Letter From the Editor
    • Medical Education
    • Online Exclusives
    • Practice Management
    • Resident Focus
    • Rx: Wellness
    • Special Reports
    • Tech Talk
    • Viewpoint
    • What’s Your O.R. Playlist?
  • Literature Reviews
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Events
    • Featured Events
    • TRIO Meetings
  • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Triological Society
    • Advertising Staff
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Rate Card
  • Search

Overinterpretation of Sterilization Guidelines Could Interfere with Patient Safety

by C.W. David Chang, MD • December 11, 2018

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version

On the other hand, justifying current practices based solely on the argument, “Well, that’s the way we’ve always done it” blinds us to new opportunities. While individual experiences should not be discounted, we also need to be aware that any one person’s experience has enormous biases—even though individually we feel them to be grounded in reality. How well is our anecdotal experience able to detect potential clinical manifestations of equipment contamination? The purported increased risk may be too subtle for us to individually recognize. While I acknowledge that I make lots of medical decisions based on my own experience, I also realize that my experience can be fallible. It is important that we not dismiss new thoughts and ideas too quickly just because they challenge our preconceptions. Instead, let us challenge issues in an intellectually honest manner and not close ourselves off to reasoned deliberation.

You Might Also Like

  • Instrument Sterilization: What’s the Evidence?
  • Patient Safety Comes First in Clinical Decisions on Second Opinion Consultations
  • First Clinical Consensus Statement on Balloon Dilation Aims to Ensure Patient Safety
  • Patient Safety: It’s Not Rocket Science
Explore This Issue
December 2018

Regulatory and accrediting agencies look to advisory groups such as AORN, CDC, WHO, and ACS, who put forth their own recommendations. As individuals, our voices were too small to be heard. Collectively, as the AAO–HNS, we were able to sit with The Joint Commission leadership to voice concerns of overinterpretation that have led to confusion and unnecessary time and expense, and could interfere with patient safety. As a body, the Academy is an advocate for both physicians and patients. In playing the role of patient advocate, when the evidence is shaky, it is easier to fall back upon the more seemingly “safe” approach and apply the strictest guidance. However, a balance should be struck to pursue what is reasonable and responsible.


Dr. Chang is associate clinical professor of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Pages: 1 2 | Single Page

Filed Under: Departments, Viewpoint Tagged With: Clinical Guidelines, patient careIssue: December 2018

You Might Also Like:

  • Instrument Sterilization: What’s the Evidence?
  • Patient Safety Comes First in Clinical Decisions on Second Opinion Consultations
  • First Clinical Consensus Statement on Balloon Dilation Aims to Ensure Patient Safety
  • Patient Safety: It’s Not Rocket Science

The Triological SocietyENTtoday is a publication of The Triological Society.

The Laryngoscope
Ensure you have all the latest research at your fingertips; Subscribe to The Laryngoscope today!

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Open access journal in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery is currently accepting submissions.

Classifieds

View the classified ads »

TRIO Best Practices

View the TRIO Best Practices »

Top Articles for Residents

  • Do Training Programs Give Otolaryngology Residents the Necessary Tools to Do Productive Research?
  • Why More MDs, Medical Residents Are Choosing to Pursue Additional Academic Degrees
  • What Physicians Need to Know about Investing Before Hiring a Financial Advisor
  • Tips to Help You Regain Your Sense of Self
  • Should USMLE Step 1 Change from Numeric Score to Pass/Fail?
  • Popular this Week
  • Most Popular
  • Most Recent
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • Experts Delve into Treatment Options for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
    • Some Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Resists PPI Treatment
    • Weaning Patients Off of PPIs
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • New Developments in the Management of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
    • Some Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Resists PPI Treatment
    • Eustachian Tuboplasty: A Potential New Option for Chronic Tube Dysfunction and Patulous Disease
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Podcasts Becoming More Popular Method of Education for Otolaryngologists
    • How to Embrace Optimism in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic
    • Tips on How to Approach Conversations with Patients about the COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Steps You Should Take to Protect Your Voice and Hearing During Telemedicine Sessions
    • Routine Postoperative Adjunct Treatments Unnecessary for Idiopathic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks

Polls

Have you spoken with your patients about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Visit: The Triological Society • The Laryngoscope • Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

Wiley
© 2021 The Triological Society. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN 1559-4939

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.