RENOWNED INFECTION EXPERT JOINS RID BOARD
May 14, 2021
The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths is proud to announce that one of the nation’s most accomplished infectious disease experts, Dr. Michael F. Parry of Stamford Hospital, is joining RID’s board.
Dr. Parry is a pioneer in identifying the shortcomings in hospital cleaning, and the importance of thorough cleaning to reduce infection risk. He co-authored a seminal work, “Improving Cleaning of the Environment Surrounding Patients in 36 Acute Care Hospitals,” which appeared in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
We at RID often cite his work. You’ve heard me say “if you have to eat lunch in a hospital room, put your sandwich on the toilet seat. It’s almost always cleaned, whereas the bedside table is overlooked.” Dr. Parry devised a method of monitoring which items in a hospital room get cleaned and which are missed, and then how to train personnel to get the job done correctly.
Dr. Parry also identified the risk posed by hospital staff wearing artificial fingernails, which can promote gram-negative bacteria and yeast-causing infections. His research, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, was a red flag to enforce policies keeping artificial nails out of the operating room.
These are just two examples of his contributions to the field. If you attended RID’s Harvard Club forums, you will remember Dr. Parry’s groundbreaking presentations. He also starred in a RID YouTube video on hospital protocols to prevent bacteria lingering on surfaces from being carried to the patient’s bedside on caregivers’ hands.
Dr. Parry is a graduate of Yale College and Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons.
Under his leadership, Stamford Hospital has taken a proactive approach to infection prevention, including the use of new technologies such as copper and robotic devices.
He brings expertise and passion to our RID mission of stopping hospital infections. With his guidance, we will be even more effective.
Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D.
Chairman