Search: 2 – Page 31

Teaming Up to Win the War Against Multidrug-Resistant Organisms  “Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there.”– Virginia Burden St. Francis Medical Center is the largest hospital in Northeast Louisiana, with over 2,200 employees and more than 300 physicians who provide quality care in 45 medical specialties.  In 2013, St. Francis Medical Center was recognized as one of the best hospitals in Louisiana, and has been recognized for their quality of care in several specialties. As you can imagine, this organization must be constantly focused on continuous improvement to maintain their quality reputation.  We’d

The evidence shows that daily cleaning of high touch surfaces and the cleaning of patient care equipment between patients can reduce the amount of contamination, and lead to a lower risk of pathogen transmission.  But the real question becomes, how do you ensure that daily cleaning and disinfection is happening? Disinfectant wipes provide the easiest and most convenient option for enabling your staff.  It really comes down to making sure you select the right product to deliver the optimum results.  Make sure the odds are in your favor. Here are some criteria to consider: Ease of Use:  Healthcare workers

“What gets measured gets managed.” Peter Drucker What looks clean may not be clean or disinfected.   Because pathogens are microscopic (aka invisible), it is nearly impossible to measure the cleanliness of a room with visual inspection alone.  Yet this is how the majority of healthcare facilities measure patient room cleanliness. Studies have shown that environmental surfaces play a significant role in the transmission of pathogens.  These invisible pathogens are often found on frequently-touched surfaces that patients, visitors and care providers come into contact with daily. There is no doubt that healthcare workers want to create a clean and safe

Uniting EVS and IPC has transformed its organization Great teams typically have a number of characteristics in common – a great leader, a common goal, shared values, and complementary skills.  When these teams are put into action, extraordinary results can be achieved. Meet Lakeridge Health, which demonstrates daily what it takes to provide a safe environment for patient care.  Lakeridge Health is one of Ontario’s largest community hospitals where about 5,000 healthcare professionals and volunteers work across four hospital sites and three emergency rooms, caring for more than 1,600 people each day. In 2006, Lakeridge Health challenged Helen Gibson,

The ultimate goal of cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces is to create a safe environment for patients, their visitors, and healthcare personnel. Environmental Services (EVS) and Infection Prevention (IP) departments continue to face the challenge of preventing the transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens (HAPs).  Accomplishing this task can be difficult.  There is increased pressure to make sure environments are safe.  Infection rates are now reported, public awareness is much higher, and facilities face financial pressure from new reimbursement models.  With the emergence of more multi-drug resistant organisms, effective cleaning and disinfection may seem like the last line of defense to

Two steps may be required to adequately clean and disinfect surfaces.  Are you sure your staff is complying with disinfectant label instructions and your internal policies?  It may be worth checking out! Many cleaners don’t disinfect.  Many disinfectants do not clean.  Cleaning removes dirt and soil, and it can also remove pathogens from surfaces. Disinfection not only removes pathogens, it kills them – which is what is needed to achieve the desired level of safety in the environment of patient care. Are you doing the two-step? Soil, hard water and fragrances can inhibit the effectiveness of disinfectants.  It is