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Bringing down infection rates quickly

Briefings on Infection Control, November 1, 2009

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On June 31, the New York State Health Department released a report detailing the HAI rates of hospitals in New York for 2008. SUNY Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, NY, reported an alarming infection rate in the medical-surgical ICU. According to the report, University had a central line–associated bloodstream infection rate of 8.3 per 1,000 patient days in that particular ICU during the previous year. The state average in New York was 2.3.
The report forced University’s quality team to reevaluate its processes for infection prevention, particularly in the ICU, says Judy Kilpatrick, RN, clinical nurse specialist
to the surgical ICUU, trauma, and burns. Part of Kilpatrick’s job is to examine quality measures and determine what the hospital can do to improve direct patient care at the bedside.
“I think there were a number of contributing factors, and the way our system was set up, that didn’t afford an easy process for the practitioner to do the right thing,” Kilpatrick says. “When I talk to my colleagues, they have the same particular issue, so what we did is we implemented some things that would make it more efficient for the practitioner and at the same time institute some documentation procedures, which allowed us to go back and coach those people thorough the [Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)] bundle.”
After learning about the above-average rate, University kick-started a fast-paced improvement program to reduce central line infections in all ICUs throughout the facility. One year later, the hospital has reduced its rate to zero, says David Duggan, MD, medical director and quality officer.
“We have tried to look for solutions that make it easy for people to do the right thing, and I think that’s the key,” Duggan says.

This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login or subscribe to Briefings on Infection Control.

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