- Home
- » e-Newsletters
Healthcare system honored for MRSA reduction efforts
Infection Control Monitor, September 21, 2007
Kudos to Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in Illinois. The healthcare system, which runs three hospitals, received national recognition for its efforts to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
The National Quality Forum and the Joint Commission awarded the organization one of its 2007 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality awards. The organization is the first in the country to develop and use a universal admission surveillance program for MRSA that involves swabbing all inpatients for the bacteria.
The first year of the initiative resulted in a 62% reduction of MRSA and prevention of more than 50 episodes of MRSA infection, the Joint Commisison said in announcing the award. Other hosptials can easily and cost effectively duplicate the approach, the Joint Commission said, giving the project the potential to have a significant impact on the nationally increasing mortality rates and rising costs associated with MRSA infections.
Staff perform nasal swabs for colonization on patients during the hospital admission process. A new molecular diagnostic technique called a real-time PCR is used to quickly assess a patient for MRSA infection, allowing staff to prompty identify and isolate infected patients. The healthcare system's MRSA reduction program team plans to soon publish its findings in a peer reviewed journal. It is also offering an outreach program to long-term care facilities and is consulting with various hospitals around the country on how to start similar surveillance programs.
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- HIPAA Q&A: Flu shot requirement for hospital employees
- Running an effective peer review committee meeting
- HealthDataInsights posts new issues for medical necessity claims
- Sneak Peek: Effort underway to establish caseload benchmarks
- Q/A: Coding for telescopic intraocular lens
- New FAQ posted on storing laryngoscope blades
- Tip: Perform your own internal investigation prior to government audit
- HIPAA 5010 deadline extended, but threat remains, says AMA
- HHS task force: Consider privacy, security with text messages
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- E-mailed
-
- Running an effective peer review committee meeting
- HIPAA Q&A: Flu shot requirement for hospital employees
- HHS task force: Consider privacy, security with text messages
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- Q/A: Coding for telescopic intraocular lens
- Q/A: Correct use of modifier -PT
- Tip: Correctly code bilateral pain management procedures
- "Wall fountains" may be spreading Legionnaires to patients, visitors
- 2012 CPT code changes for ASCs: Shoulder and knee scopes and pain management
- COT basics to best
- Searched