Julio: el mes mas peligroso en los hospitales

Hospitals are dangerous places to be. And there's no more dangerous time of the year in a hospital than during the month of July.

I actually sounded a similar warning to you when I blogged last December about the danger of being in a hospital during the holidays. It's just common sense. During holidays, including Christmas, Thanksgiving, the 4th of July and others, the full time staff takes days off -- as they should! -- but it leaves the part-timers and sometimes temporary staff in charge of your care. And it often means that staffing is not 100%. Fewer good people around to take care of your needs.

But July is even worse in many hospitals across the United States:

1. The 4th of July holiday fits the holiday profile described above.


2. This is the time of year when many of the most experienced medical practitioners take vacations, too... So they aren't absent for just the few holiday-days. They're absent for weeks at a time.


3. NEW doctors. Inexperienced doctors. Interns, first year residents -- those who are now called "doctor" by virtue of the fact that a few weeks ago they completed medical school. They may be finished with their book-learning, and may have spent time with some patients as they accompanied more experienced doctors through hospitals and in offices. But they aren't licensed, and they've spent very little time actually practicing any medicine. If you're in the hospital where they are practicing, they'll be caring for you.

So.... add together a holiday, an absence of experienced doctors, and wet-behind-the-ears doctors and what do you have?

Yes. Danger.

If you must be scheduled to be hospitalized, whether it's for an elective surgical procedure or a specialized form of test, or whatever it might be -- then postpone your hospital stay as long as you can, maybe even into the Fall.

If you must be hospitalized and you can't put it off till later, then know that you or your caregiver will need to be particularly vigilant about keeping track of all aspects of your hospital stay. VERY vigilant.