As an IP, if we don’ t practice what we preach, it will compromise what initiatives you are pursuing within your organization.” adds,“ As an IP, if we don’ t practice what we preach, it will compromise what initiatives you are pursuing within your organization. Sometimes we need to change the messaging to be successful. For example, take mandatory influenza vaccine for all staff that comes around every fall. Change the messaging to‘ fitness for duty’ requirements, and that messaging makes it appear less punitive, but rather patient / resident safety oriented. The IP, along with facility administration, should be the first in line to get their flu shot come vaccination time. Another example is the use of CHG bathing along with nasal mupirocin ointment to decolonize patients in the ICUs. Change the word‘ bathing,’ which sounds like it can be optional, to‘ treatment.’ Patients rarely deny having treatments. There can even be a financial incentive when it is coded as a treatment ordered by the physician. It then becomes a reimbursable charge in the course of care for that patient and nursing is required to follow through to deliver that treatment and document it in the electronic medical record. The IP needs to seek ways to ensure accountability without having to police people. Punitive compliance is never a strategy to change behavior.”
It takes bravery to admit that systems, protocols and policies can often fail the HAI improvement process as much as it helps, and some say a paradigm shift is long overdue in some healthcare facilities.
“ Policies don’ t prevent infections, people do,” Woodall emphasizes.“ Protocols help but only when they’ re built for the real world and not copied from a template, not buried in SharePoint, not written by someone who hasn’ t touched a unit in years. Systems fail when they’ re rigid. Training fails when it’ s forgettable. Education should provoke thought and not boredom. We don’ t need to keep adding more laminated posters everywhere. We need people who know how to spot risks and act on them. If our current systems aren’ t reducing HAIs, we don’ t need tweaks; what we need is a hard reset.”
Goss observes that there is a need to streamline protocols and policies to facilitate action.“ There is a balance that should happen when developing those protocols and policies to ensure all areas who have a stake in the success of those have their content in there but limit it to the essentials only,” she says.“ Education and training should go back to hands-on demonstration of practices like foley catheter insertion or peripherally inserted intravascular catheter( PICC) dressing change. Simulation is the best way for risk-free demonstration; however, there should be an intentional effort to also check the person during their practice. Some facilities have implemented two-person Foley catheter insertion to
provide another set of eyes and to assist in preventing potential contamination during insertion. This is a‘ nice to have’ system but it is challenging with staffing shortages always on the horizon. This process, however, should be a consideration in areas where the infection numbers are higher than expected. IPs should be participants in the skills fairs that provide the healthcare worker opportunity to ask questions about catheter care or best practice in the care for a central line.”
St. John says he is a strong advocate for the use of checklists to enable process improvement.“ You can develop written policies, protocols, etc. and place them in a binder, but that does not ensure compliance,” he says.“ I have reviewed policy and procedure manuals in the past that appear to be a collection of templated documents sold commercially. I question if the staff has actually read them and comply with what is written. This is not a viable process improvement strategy, as it appears to be driven by surveyors who review their P & P manual( s) when on-site. Checklists have several benefits, one of which instills consistent processes to avoid any gaps in patient safety. In my opinion,
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Strategic Alliance Forged to Accelerate the Growth of Healthcare Innovators
LET’ S CONNECT! Paul Alper paul @ next-levelstrategies. com www. next-levelstrategies. com
Ericka Kalp ericka @ ipclaunch. com www. ipclaunch. com
Policies don’ t prevent infections, people do. Protocols help but only when they’ re built for the real world and not copied from a template, not buried in SharePoint, not written by someone who hasn’ t touched a unit in years. Systems fail when they’ re rigid. Training fails when it’ s forgettable. Education should provoke thought and not boredom.”
Next Level Strategies, LLC led by Paul Alper, and IPC Launch, LLC founded by Dr. Ericka Kalp, are proud to announce a strategic alliance with a mission to accelerate growth for innovators in healthcare quality, patient safety, and infection prevention.
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Book a 30-minute no-cost no-obligation strategy consult today.
may-june 2025 • www. healthcarehygienemagazine. com •
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