Achievement Awards Spotlight: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

June 21, 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, Penn State Health received the In Safe Hands Award for its project to decrease central line blood stream infections in pediatric oncology patients through environmental control.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The challenge:  Pediatric oncology patients are at high risk for central line blood stream infections (CLABSIs) due to prolonged use of central lines and prolonged periods of neutropenia from chemotherapy.
  • These infections are significant source of morbidity and mortality for pediatric oncology patients and lead to increased hospitalizations and higher health care costs.
• Taking action:  The center joined the Solutions for Patient Safety’s CLABSI Hem-Onc Pioneer Cohort and implemented a dedicated work surface for supplies for aseptic access of central lines.
  • The center used the Plan-Do-Check-Act method to implement the program and ensure success and educate staff about the initiative.
• Results:  During 2023, the team reported zero CLABSI events. Following the implementation of the program, the center recorded the longest stretch of time without a CLABSIs (588 days).
• Next steps:  The project highlighted the importance of auditing and real-time feedback. To continue the success from this project, the team is now moving forward with twice daily high-touch surface cleaning.
• Quotable:  “By decreasing bioburden in the environment with more frequent room cleanings, we have significantly reduced CLABSI events on our unit,” the team noted.

Congratulations to Penn State Health for its outstanding commitment to promoting patient safety. Learn more about the project online.

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