Simple test could prevent stroke care error
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
June 6, 2007
A new study shows that the majority hospital staff do not check the swallowing ability of stroke patients, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. If a patient has difficulty swallowing, he or she can aspirate food or drink and develop pneumonia.
The May 29 Neurology published the study, which showed that only 44% of respondents said they checked the swallowing ability of stroke patients. Patients who aspirate and develop pneumonia are three times as likely to die of their illness than other stroke patients, according to the article. Each case of pneumonia costs about $15,000 to treat.
The study fielded responses from over 11,000 healthcare professionals.
