Swine Flu Strikes Pigs at Oakland County Fair
The Oakland County Fair in Davisburg has reported several cases of swine flu among the pigs. The symptoms were observed late last week, prompting the closure of the swine barn to the public. The Oakland County Health Division is collaborating with the fair organizers and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to contract track and monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus. Thankfully, no human cases of swine flu have been reported in Michigan this year.
Nevertheless, health officials are urging fairgoers who recently visited the swine barn and are experiencing respiratory symptoms to seek medical attention immediately.
“Physicians are reminded to consider swine influenza in persons presenting with symptoms, even during the warmer months when seasonal influenza cases are low,” said Oakland County medical director Dr. Russell Faust.
As the fair season in Michigan extends into October, it’s important for people to take proactive steps to safeguard their health and prevent the transmission of any illness. The Oakland County Health Division recommends several precautions to minimize the risk of contracting swine flu.
The following are steps Michiganders can take to protect themselves and prevent the spread of any illness:
- Anyone at high risk of serious flu complications and planning to attend a fair should avoid pigs and swine barns.
- Refrain from eating or drinking in livestock barns or show rings.
- Do not take toys, pacifiers, cups, baby bottles, strollers, or similar items into pig areas.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Avoid contact with pigs if you have flu-like symptoms. This includes being in a swine barn if you are ill, as influenza can be spread via respiratory droplets.
- If you are sick, stay home from work or school until your illness is over.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it and wash your hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
More information on swine flu can be found on the CDC website and on the Michigan health department website.
Hospital Safety Grades Are Out, How Michigan Hospitals Scored
When it comes to finding the best hospital care for yourself and your family, it might be difficult to choose the one that you prefer. They all vary on things such as infection rates, surgical errors, patient injuries, ER wait times, patient satisfaction, and others. Are you getting ready to have a baby? Do you or a relative need surgery? Whether you’re planning your next visit to the hospital or want an established hospital to go to “just in case,” you may want to consider going to a hospital with the best care.
Making transparency the norm in health care
The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization that serves as a voice for healthcare consumers and purchasers, issued their Hospital Safety Grades. They publicly report critical safety and quality information that can help you find the best care for you and your family. For over 20 years they “collected, analyzed, and published hospital data on safety and quality in order to push the health care industry forward.”
Each hospital was ranked in the nation as either A, B, C, D or F. The Hospital Safety Grade uses more than 30 national performance measures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, and information from other supplemental data sources. Together, those performance measures produce a single letter grade representing a hospital’s overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors. As far as the methodology, it has been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Patient Safety.
The top ten states with the highest percentages of “A” hospitals.
In the report, the top ten states with the highest percentages of “A” hospitals are New Jersey, Idaho, Utah, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Meanwhile, there were no “A” hospitals in Delaware, the District of Columbia, or North Dakota. Overall, twenty-nine percent of hospitals received an “A,” 26 percent received a “B,” 39 percent received a “C,” 6 percent received a “D,” and less than 1 percent received an “F.”
Never refuse care in an emergency because of the hospital’s grade.
However, the nonprofit said never to refuse care in an emergency because of the hospital’s grade. People are encouraged to use the information as a guide for planned events and a research tool for potential emergencies.
As far as Michigan, our state has 26.8 percent grade A hospitals for Spring 2023 and ranks 24 in the nation. This is lower than Fall 2022’s 33.5 percent grade A hospitals and number 19 ranking.
Over 80 Michigan hospitals received Hospital Safety Grades. Take a look at Michigan’s and other states’ Hospital Safety Grades here.
Here are some ways to choose the right hospital.
Choose an accredited hospital.
Use hospitals that have received accreditation from an agency approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Choose a hospital with expertise and experience in your condition.
Hospitals often specialize in particular areas. So, asking how many patients with your health condition are treated at a particular hospital each year can help you decide on a hospital.
Research hospital performance.
Research hospital performance on quality, safety, outcomes, and other criteria. Having information on outcomes, complication rates, infections and even death rates for specific medical conditions and procedures at hospitals in your area can help you choose a hospital.
Look into Hospital Safety Grades.
Leapfrog assigns letter grades (A through F) for hospitals based on their ability to protect patients from preventable errors, accidents, injuries, and infections. Search for hospitals by geographic area, or name, to see quality data for information on medication safety, infections and injuries, inpatient care management, and more.
Find information on Medicare penalties.
You can use a website created by Kaiser Health News to look up hospitals by name or location to find out if Medicare imposed penalties for either readmissions or hospital-acquired conditions such as infections and patient injuries.
Medicare’s Care Compare.
Medicare’s Care Compare website shows their star ratings for hospitals nationwide based on performance. You can also find patient survey scores for each hospital. These scores come from patients who completed the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. The surveys include communication with doctors and nurses, hospital staff responsiveness, hospital cleanliness, and others.
Look into hospitals that take your insurance coverage.
To avoid unexpected bills, check with your insurance carrier to determine your coverage at any hospital you consider. Also, don’t forget to ask if you need pre-approval, or if there are any exclusions to your coverage.
