title: Eliminating nosocomial infections at Ascension Health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eliminating nosocomial infections was identified as one of eight priorities for action for Ascension Health. St. John Hospital and Medical Center (SJHMC), and St. Vincent's Hospital (STV), designated alpha sites, developed best practices for the prevention of catheter-related blood stream infections (CR-BSIs) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both hospitals used the Institute for Healthcare Improvement model of "bundles" to achieve the goal of reducing nosocomial infections and also implemented multidisciplinary rounds and the use of daily goal sheets in the intensive care unit (ICU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Through the use of ventilator bundle, central line (CL) bundle, MDRs, and daily goal sheets, both facilities reduced CR-BSIs and VAPs by more than 50%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SJHMC saw the benefit of having the physical presence of the ICPs in the ICUs, providing the staff with on-the-spot reinforcement of the initiative. STV found by starting the change process through the use of a flexible MDR team, the hospital was able to successfully implement positive changes in its ICU culture. On the basis of the success in the ICU, the concept of MDR teams eventually was adapted and spread to all units. Open communication among all patient caregivers was extended and served to provide improved patient care throughout the hospital.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control, St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, USA.
authors.forename: Dorine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berriel-Cass
authors.forename: Frank W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Adkins
authors.forename: Polly
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Mohamad G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Fakih
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D019985:Benchmarking; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects; D002410:Catholicism; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016519:Hospitals, Religious / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards*; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D009096:Multi-Institutional Systems / Q000592:standards; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000517:prevention & control; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017751:Safety Management; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration