In late 2007, VHA hospitals in the Central Atlantic region established an aggressive goal to reduce the incidence of MRSA infections within three years. According to Terri Bowersox, director of clinical performance improvement at VHA’s Central Atlantic office, multiple components helped hospitals achieve success, including hospital CEO/leadership involvement, efforts to implement a culture of safety and monthly data collection and monitoring.
One key focus was improving hand hygiene. The hospitals reinforced the requirement that all those who come in contact with patients, including hospital staff, physicians and visitors, must wash their hands before entering the rooms and follow a “wash-in” and “wash-out” approach to infection prevention. Other areas of focus included improving isolation policies and environmental cleaning procedures, conducting MRSA screening and implementing protective equipment policies.
Read the news release about the regional MRSA initiative.
Read other coverage about infection prevention efforts:
– New York Bill to Criminalize Reckless Infection of Patients
– Pennsylvania Hospitals Charged $1.25B to Treat Infection-Related Readmissions
– Four Maine Hospitals Chosen for Medicare Demonstration
