The next time you meet with your doctor and he or she is wearing a necktie, feel free to compliment them on their taste, but immediately ask them to tuck it in their shirts and then WASH THEIR HANDS. Neckties are the carriers of a myriad of germs and bacteria. If the tie rubs against you, or your doctor touches you after adjusting his/her tie, the chances for contracting an infection are high.

Experts in a new film, “Things you should know before entering the hospital,” recommend that you ask everyone who is going to be touching you, your food, linens, or anything in your surroundings, to wash their hands first. In the film, various medical personnel are asked how they would react if a patient requested them to wash their hands prior to entering their room. The consensus from the medical staff is that they would be delighted to have that reminder.

Reports from the CDC estimate that as many as two million patients contract an infection from U.S. hospitals or medical centers each year, accounting for 90,000 deaths. In the archives of Internal Medicine, researchers estimate staph infections cause nearly 12,000 deaths each year accounting for increased hospital bills of $9.5 billion. The tie is just one harbinger for infection. Other reports point to cell phones, EKG wiring, computer keypads, telephones and floors as thriving sources for infectious bacteria.

Don’t be afraid to ask them to wash their hands. Most hospitals today have hand sanitizers hanging on the wall in your room, making it easier for medical personnel and your visitors to keep their hands clean. A study by the American Society for Microbiology reported that the bacteria that cause many hospital-acquired infections can survive for days and even weeks on hospital bed linens, computer keyboards, and even acrylic fingernails on nurses. University of Wisconsin-Madison infectious diseases expert Dennis Maki, found that EKG wiring commonly used to monitor patients' hearts after surgery and in intensive care units often carried a variety of drug-resistant germs.

“Human error is a fact in healthcare just as in the rest of life, and we all must be educated on what to be watchful of regarding things that might go wrong,” said Martin J. Hatlie, Esq., former lobbyist for the American Medical Association and President of Partnership for Patient Safety. “The film, Things you should know before entering the hospital, is an exceptional safety guide for everyone who is a patient or takes care of one. Watch it and learn what we all need to know to prevent injuries and save lives.”

The film should be viewed by the patient as well as their family and friends. It stresses the importance of having someone with you around the clock as your advocate for the entire length of your hospital stay. Available on DVD and VHS video tape for $29.95 at www.patientsafetyvideo.com, Things you should know before entering the hospital gives valuable insight into the potential hazards of the hospital experience without instilling fear or blame. The film is direct, to the point and narrated by Emmy-award-winning actor and comedian Ben Hollis. Ben's affable approach engages viewers through his unique sense of compassion and caring humor. Most significantly, it educates and informs. A convenient checklist is included in each DVD/video so that patients can take it with them when they go into the hospital.