OMC Lowers Surgical Infection Rates. You Can Too!

Its a winning formula:

Patient education + handwashing + surgical site preparation + sterility in operating rooms = low surgical infection rates.

That’s what the Oconee Medical Center in Seneca, SC accomplished after setting a goal of zero infections. According to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Oconee Medical Center reported 4 infections out of 70 hip procedures, 3 infections out of 144 knee replacements, and ZERO infections during 1,445 adult inpatient days and during 499 critical care patient days! When asked how the center achieved these rates, Heather Goss, Marketing Director at the facility cited various efforts:

Strict infection prevention protocols throughout the hospital, particularly related to patient education, hand washing, surgical site preparation, and sterility in ORs
Active surveillance screening for resistant bacteria upon patients arrival
A stand alone Joint Center unit that is segregated from the sick patient population
A partnership with Duke University Medical Center to have access to an infection control network for on-site support and resources