Spotlight on INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center’s
Blood Culture Collection Performance Improvement Project

Posted on: 1/3/20


 
Jay Johnson (left), OHA board chairman, presents an Excellence in Quality Award to INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center leaders (left to right) Tami Inman, BSN, RN, CIC, infection preventionist; and Jordan D. Cash, FACHE, president.
Over the next several weeks, the Clinical Initiatives Corner will feature each of the Excellence in Quality Award submissions to highlight and share successful quality initiatives. Each week, we will describe how the problem was identified, the improvement goal(s), interventions and outcomes. Please feel free to use this information, duplicate interventions, and share with your staff.

The 2019 Excellence in Quality Award in the “over 300 bed” category was presented to INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center, Oklahoma City. Tami Inman, BSN, RN, CIC, infection preventionist, submitted the following information about the hospital’s Blood Culture Performance Improvement Project.

Identifying the Problem: Collection practices due to contaminate rates were consistently greater than the national average of <2%. And 68% of the CLABSIs (central line-associated blood stream infections) that occurred in 2016 and 2017 were due to possible contaminates.

The Goal: The goal was to decrease blood culture contamination rates to <2% and CLABSI (central line-associated blood stream infections) to <4 hospital-wide, curing CY2019.

Interventions:  
  1. Evidence-based review conducted to identify best practices for reduction of blood culture contamination.
  2. Multidisciplinary team created to review evidence and determine prevention measures for facility.  
  3. Specialized team of experts identified on each unit and trained in blood culture collection best practices.
  4. Blood culture collection kits created.
  5. Blood culture contamination rates were monitored.
The Outcome: 
  1. The blood culture contamination rate has been reduced to below the national average of <2% and the goal has been sustained for seven months.
  2. The CLABSI rate was zero for the first three quarters of 2019.
Comments: Front-line staff on each unit were involved in this project. The impact of improving blood culture collection practices had significant impact on the patient by reducing the infection rate, also resulting in significant costs avoided. The project was spread hospital-wide, with discussions addressing implementation throughout the hospital system.

Save the dates for OHA 2022 events

Posted on: 2/18/22


It’s a new year and a new lineup of important events for you and your staff. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to engage in advocacy, education and networking all year long. Mark your calendar now!

OHA Advocacy Day - Tuesday, April 5, Oklahoma History Center. Join us for our annual legislative day. We will begin with a member briefing at 3 p.m., followed by a legislative reception at 5 p.m. Watch for registration materials soon.

OHA-PAC Golf Tournament - Tuesday, June 21, Jimmie Austin Golf Club at OU, Norman. Time and details TBA.

OHA Health Care Leaders Forum - Tuesday, July 19 - Thursday, July 21, Shangri-La Resort, Grand Lake. Watch for registration soon!

OHA Connect 22 - Wednesday, Nov. 9 - Friday, Nov. 11, Oklahoma City Convention Center and Omni Hotel, downtown Oklahoma City. Plan now to attend OHA’s annual conference and exhibit hall. More details to come.

Details on these events and other upcoming education opportunities will be available on the OHA website.