A Partnership that Empowers Community Hospitals To Succeed: Duke Infection Control Outreach

A Partnership that Empowers Community Hospitals To Succeed: Duke Infection Control Outreach Pages E51-E52 E. Fulmer*, C. Clark, D. Boyette Close Close preview | Purchase PDF (65 K) | Related articles | Related reference work articles AbstractAbstract Abstract ISSUE: Many community hospitals struggle to meet infection control (IC) standards without the guidance of an infectious disease physician or an experienced infection control practitioner (ICP). In many community hospitals, nurses assume the role of ICP without proper training and physician support, and/or infection control is an assigned duty for personnel with other responsibilities. PROJECT: Duke Infection Control Outreach (DICON) was formed to provide assistance to community hospital IC programs. DICON provides 24 affiliated community hospitals regular and easy access to infectious disease physicians trained and experienced in hospital epidemiology. Via regular visits by liaison ICPs, DICON shares established policies and educational programs and assists in the analysis and interpretation of local surveillance data. Personnel from DICON help standardize surveillance activities and provide graphic comparisons between local data and data from other affiliated community hospitals. RESULTS: During a 3-year period, hospitals in the DICON system collectively experienced a 5% reduction in healthcare-associated bloodstream infections, a 33% reduction in methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections, and a 27% reduction in Foley-associated urinary tract infections. ICPs working in DICON-affiliated community hospitals performed their jobs more efficiently and with more satisfaction. To date, all DICON-affiliated hospitals successfully passed JCAHO surveys. Partnership with DICON allowed ICPs in affiliated hospitals to become infection control experts within their facilities and a better resource to others. LESSONS LEARNED: Networking with DICON allowed ICPs in affiliated community hospitals to work smarter not harder. DICON facilitated the collection of more meaningful surveillance data, helped promote better practices, and increased the job satisfaction and performance of ICPs.