patient safety & quality
By J . Hudson Garrett Jr ., PhD , MSN , MPH , MBA , FNP-BC , IP-BC , PLNC , CFER , AS-BC , VA-BC , BC- MSLcert™ , MSL-BC , CPPS , CPHQ , CPXP , CVAHP , FACDONA , FAAPM , FNAP , FSHEA , FIDSA , FACHE
A New Era of Healthcare Risk Management Collaboration to Reduce HAIs Across the Continuum of Care
Infection control is a critical aspect of healthcare delivery , and it is essential that all healthcare providers understand the importance of infection control measures . Healthcare risk management ( HRM ) plays a significant role in ensuring that the healthcare facilities are providing safe care to patients . Collaboration between infection control and HRM is crucial in developing effective strategies to prevent and control infections in healthcare settings .
Healthcare-associated infections ( HAIs ) pose a significant risk to healthcare systems . HAIs are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for another condition in a healthcare setting . They are caused by bacteria , viruses , or other pathogens and can spread from person to person through contact with contaminated surfaces , medical equipment , or from healthcare workers who carry the pathogens on their hands or clothing .
HAIs can lead to increased patient morbidity and mortality , prolonged hospital stays , and higher healthcare costs . In addition , HAIs can cause patients to have greater trust issues with healthcare providers and can lead to negative publicity for the healthcare system , which can harm its reputation and reduce patient satisfaction .
One of the biggest risks associated with HAIs is the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria . When patients are treated with antibiotics , they can kill off susceptible bacteria , but resistant strains can persist and continue to spread . This leads to a growing population of bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics , making it increasingly difficult to treat infections effectively . This can result in longer hospital stays , higher healthcare costs , and increased patient morbidity and mortality .
Another significant risk associated with HAIs is the transmission of infectious diseases from one patient to another . This can occur when contaminated medical equipment or surfaces are not properly disinfected , or when healthcare workers fail to follow proper infection control procedures . This can result in outbreaks of infections , such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) or Clostridium difficile ( C . diff ), which can spread rapidly through a healthcare facility and result in significant harm to patients .
HAIs also create risks for healthcare systems by increasing healthcare costs . The cost of treating HAIs is significant , as patients often require extended hospital stays , additional treatments , and sometimes , specialized care . This can increase the overall cost of healthcare and put a strain on healthcare systems that are already facing budget constraints .
Healthcare-associated infections pose significant risks to healthcare systems . They can result in increased patient morbidity and mortality , prolonged hospital stays , higher healthcare costs , and decreased patient trust . To minimize these risks , healthcare systems must implement and enforce strict infection control procedures , improve hygiene practices , and invest in technology and equipment to prevent the spread of infectious diseases .
. healthcarehygienemagazine . com • february 2023
Infection control involves practices , policies , and procedures aimed at preventing the transmission of infectious diseases between healthcare providers and patients . The goal of infection control is to protect patients , healthcare providers , and the community from the spread of infections . Some of the common infection control measures include hand hygiene , use of personal protective equipment , decontamination of equipment , and isolation of infected patients .
HRM is responsible for identifying and managing the risk of adverse events that may occur in healthcare facilities . In the context of infection control , HRM must assess the risks associated with infections and develop strategies to mitigate these risks . This includes developing policies and procedures to ensure that healthcare providers are adhering to infection control measures , as well as conducting regular audits and inspections to monitor compliance .
Collaboration between infection control and HRM is essential in ensuring that healthcare facilities are providing safe care to patients . By working together , infection control and HRM can identify and prioritize areas for improvement , and develop strategies to minimize the risk of infections in healthcare settings . This collaboration can take the form of regular meetings , joint trainings , and shared information systems , among others .
One key area of collaboration between infection control and HRM is in the development of infection control policies and procedures . These policies and procedures should be developed with input from both infection control and HRM to ensure that they are evidence-based and address the specific risks associated with the healthcare facility . The policies and procedures should also be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they are current and reflect best practices .
Another important area of collaboration is in the implementation of infection control programs . HRM can provide support in the implementation of these programs by providing resources , training , and support to healthcare providers . HRM can also work with infection control to monitor compliance with infection control policies and procedures , and address any areas of non-compliance .
Infection control and HRM play a critical role in ensuring that healthcare facilities are providing safe care to patients . Collaboration between these two areas is essential in developing effective strategies to prevent and control infections in healthcare settings . By working together , infection control and HRM can ensure that healthcare facilities are providing safe care to patients and minimizing the risk of adverse events .
J . Hudson Garrett Jr ., PhD , MSN , MPH , MBA , FNP-BC , IP-BC , PLNC , CFER , AS-BC , VA-BC , BC-MSLcert™ , MSL-BC , CPPS , CPHQ , CPXP , CVAHP , FACDONA , FAAPM , FNAP , FSHEA , FIDSA , FACHE , is president and CEO of Community Health Associates , LLC . He is also an adjunct assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Louisville School of Medicine . He may be reached at :
Hudson . garrett @ chaassociates . com .
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