My lede:

A third of surrogate decision-makers experience stress, guilt and other upsetting emotions related to their role in determining a loved one’s care, according to a March 1 Annals of Internal Medicine systematic review of 40 studies.

The emotional burden on surrogate decision-makers often lasts for months — and sometimes years — after the treatment choice, researchers found. One study cited in the review found that stress levels of surrogates were comparable to those of people who experienced construction disasters or lost their homes to fire.

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My lede:

American hospital intensive care units cut central line-associated bloodstream infections by about 60% over nearly a decade, saving an estimated 27,000 lives and avoiding up to $1.8 billion in medical costs, said a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This is the first national success we have for patient safety in this country,” said Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD. He is principal investigator of a bundle of central-line infection prevention techniques that in 2006 demonstrated success statewide in Michigan and has spread to nearly 1,000 hospitals in 43 states.

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