Patient Safety: Healthcare- Associated Infection

Quality Improvement Activities

For questions and comments, please contact:
Sarah Keehner,
RN, BSN, CNN
Quality Improvement Director
skeehner@nw1.esrd.net (203) 285-1214
 
Heather Camilleri, CCHT
Quality Improvement Coordinator
(203) 285-1224
ACTION REQUIRED:
Please be aware of the dates associated with each activity.
National Coordinating Center (NCC) HAI BSI Learning and Action Network (LAN) webinar on Tuesday , June 5, 2018.
 
Resources :

Suggested resources for staff and patient education:

 

Making Dialysis Safer Coalition:

CDC Resources:

Sepsis Alliance:

 
Feedback:
We want to hear from you!
Resource Assessment

Patient Safety
Dear Provider,

Thank you to all the facilities involves in the Patient Safety Quality Improvement Activity. During this project the Network has asked all of the participating facilities to become a member of the  Center for Disease and Prevention Control (CDC): Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition.  If the facility has not become a member of the coalition, the Network is asking you to follow the provided link to the CDC website and complete the member form.
CDC: Making Dialysis Safer Coalition Membership Form


During the month of June the Network is promoting patient education, and encouraging patient engagement.  Ongoing education, ensures that all patient and care providers are aware of the signs and symptoms of sepsis and when to seek help.  The following are suggestions for infection prevention education:
  1. CDC Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition (offers one CEU upon completion) 
  2. CDC Clean Hands Campaign
  3. Sepsis Alliance
Project Activities

* Implement CDC core interventions

* Complete NHSN training

* Partner with the CDC Making Dialysis Safer Coalition
Long Term Catheter Reduction
The Network will be sending out a patient level tracker through a web based portal call Smartsheet. Please open the link and sign in to create a facility account.
 
The  goal is to track and monitor a patient's progression  through the process of getting a permanent access placed once they begin dialysis with a central venous catheter. The portal is not secure, please do not enter patient identifiers into the tracker. Only UPI numbers can be entered. The Network will fax an UPI list with patient name and date of birth to the facility to  reduce the burden of creating the initial tracker.
 
Project Activities

* Designate a vascular access coordinator

* Complete Smartsheet registration

* Create a Facility log in

* Complete the patient level tracking tool

 
Health Information Exchange  
 Facilities please speak to your organization about joining a Health Information Exchange platform. If any facility would like further information about an HIE please reach out to the Network.
We Want to Hear from YOU!
Please contact the Quality Improvement Department if you have questions, comments, or specific barriers that you would like to address.  Let us know if you have identified any best practices that you would like to share with the community.