Case Studies
The ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ Association produces case studies on its member organizations across a wide range of health-care topics.
Roseland Community Hospital joined the Illinois Foundation for Quality Healthcare, the quality improvement organization for the state of Illinois, and the Illinois Department of Public Health in an effort to reduce health care-associated C. diff infections by 20 percent. A multidisciplinary…
Rush-Copley Medical Center collaborated with the Kane County Health Department after an outbreak of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis was identified in the homeless population. A plan was developed that included identification, isolation and treatment of diagnosed and undiagnosed patients, as well as…
A central line-associated blood stream infection rate of 1.5 infections per 1,000 patient days was identified and brought to nursing and performance improvement, the medical staff executive committee and board of trustees. A goal of zero CLABSI was established. It was determined that process…
This project utilized a failure mode effects analysis methodology to examine why critical care unit central line-associated blood stream infection rates were not zero. A gap analysis was completed and utilized by the team to objectively prioritize processes that needed revision. Flow charts of each…
The Kishwaukee Community Hospital nurses and physicians recognized the opportunity to improve care by eliminating intensive care unit catheter-related blood stream infections. The project included baseline measurement and understanding of causes of variation, implementation of new evidence-based…
Infection Control surveillance identified 49 episodes of CLABSI from July 2008-June 2009, greater than the NHSN benchmark of less than 2.4 per 1,000. A multidisciplinary team was created to analyze processes and find the root cause. As a result, a 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing…
After experiencing an increase in CLABSI, the vascular access team and infection prevention and control practitioners conducted root cause analysis to determine a variety of contributing factors.
Using a sequential rapid cycle improvement process to implement evidence-based practices for central line blood stream infection prevention, the hospital reduced its critical care central line blood stream infection rate from 14.6 per 1,000 device days in 2004 to zero for the past 57 months. A…
The goal of this program was to reduce the number of Foley catheter-associated urinary tract infections. The cardiac telemetry unit implemented a CAUTI prevention bundle including best practices for prevention: avoiding unnecessary use of urinary catheters; using aseptic technique for insertion…
A patient care initiative was created to eliminate catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Baseline data was collected and a process improvement team was created. Protocol was revised to include collection of an automatic urine specimen upon catheterization and automatic removal of the…