Med Center Health Safety Snapshot – April

Your Quick Look into Safety at Med Center Health

At Med Center Health, safety and high reliability are more than just goals. They are our promise to every person who comes through our doors. This Safety Snapshot highlights Joint Commission’s National Performance Goal Number 5: Preventing and Controlling Infection.

Preventing and Controlling Infection

The Joint Commission emphasizes that preventing and controlling infection requires organizations to implement evidence-based infection prevention practices, reduce the risk of transmission, and protect patients, staff, and visitors from healthcare-associated infections.

This National Performance Goal focuses on consistent application of infection prevention strategies and early identification of risks to ensure a safe care environment.

What This Means for Daily Practice

  • Perform hand hygiene consistently
    • Follow the 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene and clean hands before and after every patient interaction
  • Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
    • Select and use PPE based on the patient’s condition and required precautions
  • Follow isolation precautions
    • Adhere to standard, contact, droplet, and airborne precautions as indicated
    • Check for Special Indicators in Meditech for correct transmission-based precaution requirements
  • Clean and disinfect equipment and environment
    • Ensure shared equipment and patient care areas are cleaned between uses with the correct disinfectant per Manufacturer’s Instructions for Use (IFUs)
  • Prevent device-related infections
    • Follow best practices for care of central lines, urinary catheters, and other invasive devices
  • Recognize and report infection risks or concerns
    • Identify signs of infection early and communicate concerns promptly via the Incident Reporting System
    • Communicate hand hygiene opportunities via our Tap the Badge initiative

Why It Matters

Healthcare-associated infections can lead to serious complications, prolonged hospital stays, and increased risk for patients. Consistent use of infection prevention practices reduces transmission, improves outcomes, and protects everyone in our care environment.

Together, we make safety a reality. Thank you for being an essential part of our culture of safety!

Reliably yours,

Denise Kaetzel, MHA, MSN, RN, CENP – Executive Director of Quality and Patient Experience

Kaitlin Banasiewicz, PhD, MSN, RN – Director of Patient Safety and Clinical Research

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