Choose a measure below to see scores for HealthEast hospitals
(St. Joseph's, St. John's and Woodwinds), as well as the average for Minnesota hospitals and top hospitals in the nation. Also, learn more about the measures and why they are important.
Hospitals can improve surgical care and reduce the risk of wound infection after surgery by providing the right medicines at the right time on the day of surgery.
There are also steps that you, as a patient, can take to make sure the surgery is as safe as possible. For example, your doctor or nurse can tell you how to wash with an antibiotic soap the day before surgery. You can also give your doctor or nurse a list of all your medications, including vitamins, herbal medicines, and over-the-counter medications. You should also tell your doctor or nurse about any allergies and bad reactions to anesthesia. For more information about steps you can take to make healthcare safer, click here.
Sometimes patients get an infection after surgery, even if the hospital took steps to prevent it. Here are signs to look out for:
Call your doctor or local hospital immediately if you have any of these signs.
Description above from the United States Department of Health & Human Services Hospital Compare web site: www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov
