Double Whammy: Reducing HAIs on Two Critical Fronts

To reduce the incidence and spread of hospitalacquired infections in two critical operational nodes of patient contact, Canton-Potsdam Hospital formed multidisciplinary task forces with oversight from a central 'Safety and Service Excellence' coordinating office. The task forces assessed the current state and, using observations, baseline and benchmarking data and process analysis, they determined the areas to be targeted for interventions. These interventions included investments in infection monitoring technology, organizationwide training, revised policies and signage and heightened awareness achieved through training and communication activities, including the use of patient stories. Within one year from implementation of solutions, the task forces cut hospital-acquired C. difficile incidence by 50 percent (from 18 occurrences at the close of 2008 to nine in 2010),and surgical site infection rates by 63 percent (from 24 in 2009 to nine in 2010). The hospital used an outside consultant