Achievement Awards Spotlight: Nazareth Hospital

June 14, 2024

HAP's annual Achievement Awards honor hospitals and health systems for their innovation, creativity, and commitment to patient care. The Achievement Awards showcase and share member hospitals’ and health systems’ successful programs and best practices.

This year, Nazareth Hospital received the In Safe Hands Award for its effort to eliminate central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) through implementation of a focused vascular access team.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The challenge:  Patients with central venous catheters have a high risk for development of a bloodstream infection. Central venous catheters serve as a direct portal for organisms to enter the bloodstream.
• Taking action:  The hospital identified the need for a champion who would function as an expert and educator while encouraging a team approach to line necessity and maintenance, effectively bridging the gap between the clinical staff and infection prevention teams.
  • A vascular access team provides assessment and evaluation of all central lines while performing site care, works with the interdisciplinary team to optimize vascular access and reduce unnecessary central lines, and closely monitor at-risk patients.
  • The team also provides real-time feedback to bedside staff and education as needed.
• Results:  Following implementation of the vascular access team, there were zero central line-associated bloodstream infections for 14 months.
  • There was also a reduction in primary bloodstream infections in patients without central lines.
• Next steps:  The team may focus on future enhancements, such as the team becoming certified to use other vascular devices such as midlines, which could further reduce the risk.
• Quotable:  “The reduction in CLABSIs has had a very positive impact on the patients we serve and the care we provide,” the team noted. “With fourteen months of zero CLABSIs, the program is effective and appears to be sustainable.”

Congratulations to Nazareth Hospital for outstanding effort to improve patient care. Learn more about the project online.

Questions about the HAP Achievement Awards may be directed to HAP Member Services at (717) 561-5359.