Poor Communication Causes Catheter Problems

Indwelling devices like catheters cause roughly 25% of hospital infections, but ongoing efforts to reduce catheter use and misuse haven’t succeeded as much as health care workers would like.

Most problems with catheter use stem from poor physician-nurse communication, according to a new University of Michigan study.

Milisa Manojlovich, a professor at the U-M School of Nursing, says the bigger picture underscores a more disturbing problem. Even routine patient care such as catheter use can cause serious problems for patients if communication breaks down among health care workers.