OMC Lowers Surgical Infection Rates. You Can Too!
November 17, 2010 at 2:59 pm Leave a comment
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
For years, evidence-based guidelines and standards from the CDC, AORN, APIC, SHEA, AHE and IAHCSMM have provided the guidance for reducing the rates of pathogenic organisms found on the patient body, as well as environmental sources that can contribute to infection. It is a multi-pronged approach that cannot rely solely on half-hearted efforts. As OMC has proven, it takes dedication by everyone in the facility - management, infection prevention and control, healthcare professional staff, housekeeping and central services - to drastically reduce rates of infection.
OMC is a model for hospitals everywhere that need to improve their infection rates. In order to get to zero, education and re-education of staff and patients must be a part of the plan. Envision, Inc. is proud to provide training programs in a wide range of infection prevention titles specifically for the OR developed with professional associations and renowned experts. For more information, please visit our website at www.EnvisionInc.net.
To read the story on OMC, please visit http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/nov/10/oconee-medical-center-recognized-low-infection-rat/?print=1
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Entry filed under: Uncategorized. Tags: acute care, AHE, ambulatory care, APIC, ASHES, CDC, CMS, continuing education, critical care, education, HAIs, hand hygiene, health care, Healthcare, HHS, hospital, hospitals, IAHCSMM, ICU, infection control, Infection prevention, intensive care, medical, nurses, nursing, Oconee Medical Center, operating room, OR, patient, patient education, patient safety, SHEA, surgery, surgical infection rates, training, video, zero infections.
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