Culture of Safety Initiative to Eliminate Health Care-Acquired Infections

Motivated by two years of high central line associated blood stream infection rates in the intensive care unit, Ellis Medicine undertook a reduction initiative. The successful strategies are now being applied toward a goal of eliminating health careacquired infections, and to inculcate a hospital-wide 'culture of safety.' A multidisciplinary task force was established to identify root causes for central line infections. The task force's work led to a multitude of procedural and supply improvements, including 'best practices bundles' and changes in the type of catheters, new catheter stabilization devices, and new dressings.