Thanks to teamwork among 53 hospitals in Ohio, central line-associated bloodstream infections in intensive care units dropped by 48 percent over 22 months, the Ohio Hospital Association announced yesterday.
The hospital collaboration was part of a voluntary national effort to eliminate bloodstream infections using the Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program (CUSP), as developed by Dr. Peter Pronovost.
After two years of working together, the hospitals saved Ohio (combined with two other states) more than $4,558,000, prevented 86 bloodstream infections, and saved 17 lives, according to the OHA press release.
The hospital teams also led to 688 fewer hospital days and enhanced the culture of safety in their units.
To further promote the nationwide goal of reducing (and eventually eliminating) costly healthcare-associated infections, Ohio hospitals will team up for one year to use CUSP to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections in immune-suppressed patients, notes the OHA.
Meanwhile, hospitals in Tennessee have found that following safety checklists and benchmark reporting through a transparent approach helped them score 22 percent above the national benchmark for central line-associated bloodstream infections.
To learn more:
- read the OHA press release