By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: The Medical Environment Is Hostile and Dangerous
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > The Medical Environment Is Hostile and Dangerous
Health careHospital AdministrationMedical EthicsSpecialties

The Medical Environment Is Hostile and Dangerous

Annie Qureshi
Last updated: September 11, 2018 9:48 pm
Annie Qureshi
Share
8 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
Eyes Are Such A Delicate FeatureThe Hands Touch EverythingNeedle Safety Is ImportantMasks To Protect The Lungs

We don’t think of hospitals as being particularly dangerous or hostile. Research labs are also considered fairly mild-mannered. However, we forget how much safety gear and protocol is in place to protect the scientists, staff, and patients alike. Scientists, technicians, nurses, patients, and other supporting staff are all exposed to situations in which they can be severely harmed or contract a dangerous disease.

Today we take a look at all of the measures the medical environment takes to protect their staff and everyone else they care for.

Eyes Are Such A Delicate Feature

With the moist nature of our eyes, we are prone to be susceptible to disease and infection should something get into our eyes. The eyelashes certainly work hard at keeping most things out but in a lab or surgical room, the eyes need extra protection from splatters and flying debris.

More Read

County Run Stroger Hospital Launches Advertising Campaign to Lure Patients From Other Hospitals
Time: The Impediment to Being a Good Primary Care Doctor
Why Vaping Is Healthier than Cigarette Smoking
Spinal Posture Indicator for Nursing Home Admission So Sit Up Straight!
Hospitals Are Hiring More Physicians

People who test tissue, blood, or other fluid samples really have to take precaution to ensure that nothing gets into their mucous membranes and their eyes. Surgical doctors and supporting staff are subject to sudden bursts of blood and fluid from their patient or possibly bone fragments if they are using a bone saw. Pathologists who perform autopsies experience similar possible situations. No one wants to contract a disease, infection, or simply be hurt on the job. Safety eyeglasses, and prescription safety glasses have been employed for a long time to protect from the dangerous possibilities.

The Hands Touch Everything

If you actually sat down and thought about how much you use your hands, you would be amazed at what they come in contact with on a daily basis. Now, imagine you work in the health field and what you could spend your days touching.

There are a lot of hidden dangers in the medical environment that can wreak havoc on a person’s life. No matter what the environment is (lab, hospital, doctor’s office, etc) there are certain things that are now in place to protect the staff from infection and disease.

One of the most obvious is the use of gloves. They were gloves for everything and they only wear them for that task on hand. Need some blood drawn? That requires fresh gloves. If they come back to check your temperature, a new pair of gloves. When they enter the room they will wash their hands, use hand sanitizer, and usually, they perform both. Because so many illnesses and diseases can float around the air for just a little bit and live, they have to take that measure so that they aren’t passing anything on to you.

In the hospital setting, patients are often sick with a lowered immune system. No medical person wants to pass on another illness to someone who is already suffering. If germs are spread that easy, you could see a facility-wide tragedy as the infections run their course.

Needle Safety Is Important

There are so many scenarios in what can happen with a needle, it’s simply not funny. Firstly, when it comes to their patients, there are strict protocols in place to ensure that needles are safe. All needles have to be opened in the presence of the patient so that they know they are fresh and sanitary. If anything happens to the needle, such as being dropped or broken, the needle is dispensed into a special hazmat container. A fresh one is then opened and the procedure continues. If the tech is trying to draw blood and not successful in the particular area, they often move to a new area. Now the tech must dispose of that needle and open a fresh one to continue on the new area.

Secondly, needlesticking is a medical staff’s worst nightmare and it can happen anywhere. It can be accidental by reaching into a hazmat container (some containers are now designed so that one cannot do that), an inspection on an unconscious patient who has a needle on their person, or simply taking a shortcut and ignoring protocol. Needlesticking leaves a person vulnerable to possible infections and diseases in the medical environment. Given that it most often happens in environments with a large number of diseased and hurt patients, the fear can be exacerbated.

Masks To Protect The Lungs

Have you ever noticed that in Japanese culture, they tend to wear masks when they are ill? It is to keep them from spreading their germs to other people but continue working throughout their day. Medical environments do a similar thing but to protect themselves from the environment.

In labs, scientists often wear masks so that they don’t breathe in anything that could be coming off their sample that could make them sick. In surgical rooms, masks are used to protect the nurses, techs, and doctors from splashes of bodily fluids and debris flying. In the hospital or doctor’s office, they are used to minimize the spreading of germs and protecting a person who has a fragile immune system.

In all of these scenarios, the masks also work to protect the samples and patients that are being worked on. Samples in the lab are in such a delicate state that any change in the environment can destroy the sample. In a cooled room, warm breath from the technician or scientist can literally damage the sample. Patients who are being worked on are also in a fragile state with a lowered immune system that can be an inviting hotbed for disease and infection. A medical employee whose child caught a cold will likely wear a mask more often just to ensure they don’t pass it on. Even if they are not showing signs of infection! A doctor who has just gotten over an illness may wear a mask at work for the same reasons. Just to be on the safe side.

All of these situations are things we may not think about but are a true reality of the medical world. There are lots of things to think about, protocols to follow, and laws so that the staff and you are protected to the best of anyone’s abilities. It may frustrate you but trust us, it’s much safer for you in the long run.

TAGGED:hospital safetyMedical Environmentphysician safety
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

SpecialtiesWellness

Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

June 29, 2019
SpecialtiesWellness

4 Tips For Relieving Stress As A Caregiver To Your Elderly Parents

March 27, 2019
Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital
Hospital AdministrationMedical InnovationsPublic HealthTechnology

IT Helps Smooth Transitions of Care

June 24, 2014
health benefits of yoga
Health care

The Health Benefits Of Yoga That May Change Your Life

February 8, 2021
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?