The University of Vermont Medical Center Given Top Infection Prevention Award from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Burlington, VT (PRWEB) December 08, 2014 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) have chosen The University of Vermont Medical Center to receive the 2014 “Partnership in Prevention Award” for achieving sustainable improvements in eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). It is the only healthcare organization in the nation to receive the award.
Since 2008, infection prevention specialists, and experts at the Jeffords Institute for Quality at The University of Vermont Medical Center have engaged multidisciplinary teams to target central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), surgical site infections, and other HAIs in multiple patient populations resulting in excellent patient outcomes. Collaboration occurs across ranks and disciplines, involving executive leadership, all levels of providers, quality improvement experts from the Jeffords Institute for Quality, environmental services staff, and a team of infection prevention advocates from across the hospital, ambulatory clinics, and dialysis centers.
Achievements include:
• No surgical site infections in knee replacements in the past four years - a total of 1,677 procedures.
• CLABSI have been virtually eliminated in Intensive Care Units, including a three year period of zero infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• Led an effort with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create new national guidelines for dialysis care that are reducing CLABSI rates.
“This prestigious award is one of several recent affirmations of our commitment to providing the safest possible care to each patient,” said John Brumsted, MD, president and CEO of The University of Vermont Medical Center, and The University of Vermont Health Network. “I couldn’t be more proud of our dedicated providers and hundreds of other staff who have made us a national model for advancing evidenced-based practice in reducing healthcare-associated infections.”
"I'm proud of The University of Vermont Medical Center for being selected out of all the hospitals in the country for its excellent infection prevention results," said Governor Peter Shumlin. “It's another reminder that Vermonters are fortunate to have access to some of the best care in the country close to home."
“The University of Vermont Medical Center addressed HAIs at every level, and throughout its care settings, achieving tremendous results,” said Jennie L. Mayfield, BSN, MPH, CIC, APIC president. “Their organization-wide achievements serve as an excellent model for other facilities seeking to reduce healthcare-associated infections.”
“The University of Vermont Medical Center has developed innovative and creative solutions to sustain prevention of HAIs in some of its most vulnerable patient populations,” said Daniel Diekema, MD, president of the SHEA. “They are a great example of how engaging the entire healthcare team can effectively prevent infections.”
About the University of Vermont Medical Center
The University of Vermont Medical Center (formerly Fletcher Allen Health Care), is a 447 bed tertiary care regional referral center providing advanced care to approximately 1 million residents in Vermont and northern New York. Together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, we are Vermont’s academic medical center. The University of Vermont Medical Center is a member of The University of Vermont Health Network, a four hospital system established to deliver high quality academic medicine to every community we serve.
The University of Vermont Medical Center also serves as a a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information visit http://www.UVMHealth.org/MedCenter or visit our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at http://www.UVMHealth.org/MedCenterSocialMedia
Michael Carrese, The University of Vermont Medical Center, http://www.UVMHealth.org/MedCenter, +1 802-847-0368, [email protected]
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