Dallas-based Parkland Health & Hospital System launched a four-year initiative in 2013, known as Reduce Infections Together Everyone, and the RITE program has already led to positive changes at the system.
The RITE program is focused on reducing three healthcare-associated infections — central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and surgical site infections — and improving adherence to a care bundle for sepsis.
Already in 2014, the system saw HAI rates improve 30 percent for CLABSIs, 57 percent for CAUTIs and 18 percent for SSIs. Also, the system nearly doubled the number of patients getting all elements of sepsis care within hours of arrival.
"Our goal is to accelerate improvements and achieve much-needed standardization in knowledge, attitudes, practices and cultures of safety related to these potentially preventable complications," said Pranavi Sreeramoju, MD, chief of infection prevention at Parkland. "In addition to standardization, we are engaging clinicians in identification of barriers and potential solutions, training a critical number of staff in process improvement methods, and participating in the regional collaborative to learn and share practices."