Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology awarded Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center its Program of Distinction designation. VUMC is the first in the country to receive the designation.
The Program of Distinction designation recognizes "excellence for infection prevention and control programs that meet stringent standards established by the association," according to a press release.
The APIC survey team conducted a rigorous review to evaluate infection prevention practices at Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and several off-site locations. VUMC was awarded the designation for a three-year period.
"We're honored to be the first institution in the country to receive this designation," said Thomas Talbot, MD, chief hospital epidemiologist at VUMC. "Something key that the surveyors cited was that it is not just the infection prevention team that contributes to the effectiveness of our infection prevention programs. They saw that the commitment to infection prevention permeates the institution, throughout all levels, from leadership to the front line."