06.06.2016

Catheter-associated infection rates decline, and more...

Catheter-associated infection rates decline

According to a comprehensive new study in the New England Journal of Medicine (Vol. 374 No. 22), a national prevention program appears to reduce catheter use and catheter-associated urinary tract infections CAUTI) rates in non-ICUs. Recent results in Massachusetts confirm that CAUTI-fighting strategies are working here.

The Journal article (“A Program to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection in Acute Care” by lead author Sanjay Saint, M.D., M.P.H.) focused on the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) and included data from 926 units (59.7% were non-ICUs, and 40.3% were ICUs) in 603 hospitals in 32 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

The unadjusted catheter- associated urinary tract infection (UTI) rate decreased overall from 2.82 to 2.19 infections per 1000 catheter days. In an adjusted analysis, catheter-associated UTI rates decreased from 2.40 to 2.05 infections per 1000 catheter days, leading the researchers to conclude that CUSP “appears to reduce catheter use and catheter-associated UTI rates in non-ICUs.” The study was conducted over an 18-month period between March 2011 and November 2013 and compared data from a 3-month baseline period, a 2-month implementation phase, and a 1-year sustainability phase.

MHA has led the “On the CUSP: Stop CAUTI” program in the commonwealth, helping hospitals improve the culture of patient safety and implement evidence-based best practices to reduce the risk of infections. Statewide hospital-acquired CAUTI data are updated on a quarterly basis (with a 9 to 12-month lag) by CMS. The Massachusetts hospital CAUTI rate for July 2014 – June 2015 (the most recent data) declined 37.1% from the baseline period rate in the 12 months ending March 2013. The CAUTI standardized infection ratio (SIR) declined 36.8% from the baseline period. The Massachusetts hospital data are for CAUTI in ICUs.

Aligning policy and people: transforming advanced care

On Tuesday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) and The Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Technology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School will co-host the inaugural event for the Project on Advanced Care and Health Policy entitled, Aligning Policy and People: Why the Time is Right to Transform Advanced Care.  The conference will feature policymakers, thought leaders, clinicians, consumer advocates, and others in an effort to work to identify the timely, practical, and actionable opportunities to transform care for people with advanced illness nearing end-of-life.

This collaboration between C-TAC and the Petrie-Flom Center was established with the goal of fostering the development of improved models of care for individuals with serious advanced illness nearing end-of-life, and applying interdisciplinary analysis to important health law and policy issues raised by the adoption of new person-centered approaches to care for this growing population.

CLICK HERE to find more information about the free event, confirmed speakers, the Project on Advanced Care and Health Policy.

Tobacco free Mass event honors mayor Walsh

TOBACCO FREE MASS is holding its Fourth Annual Awards Ceremony and Fundraiser on Thursday, June 23, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Massachusetts Medical Society, 860 Winter Street, Waltham.

Boston Mayor Martin “Marty” Walsh will be recognized for his leadership in reducing tobacco use among young people and for bringing tobacco-free baseball to Fenway Park.

MHA President and CEO Lynn Nicholas, FACHE, who has been a longtime proponent of tobacco-reduction efforts, including MHA’s own “Healing Inside and Out: Mass. Tobacco-Free Hospitals”, is the honorary chair of the event.

Information about sponsorship opportunities, which include tickets to the event, is available by e-mailing Katrin Wynns at kdwynns@gmail.com. Individual $100 tickets are still available.

Everything you wanted to know about PCMH PRIME

The patient centered medical home (PCMH) PRIME program seeks to integrate behavioral health care into primary care and certifies practices that meet a majority of these criteria. How does a practice get certified for PCMH PRIME? The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, which developed PCMH PRIME with the National Committee for Quality Assurance, (the key accrediting organization for medical homes), will hold a webinar on June 28 to explain the process. During the 90-minute webinar (2:30 to 4 p.m.), NCQA faculty will provide an overview of PCMH PRIME, review criteria and documentation requirements of the program, and describe the process to pursue certification.  A live question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

MHA wins seven lamplighter awards

On Wednesday, June 1, the New England Society for Healthcare Communications (NESHCo) honored 58 hospitals, healthcare entities, and marketing/advertising agencies for excellence in marketing, public relations, and communications. MHA took home seven awards, including five silver medals, for our creative efforts to support telemedicine, the fight against opioids, and our membership’s quality efforts through the MHA Compass Awards. (Monday Report won a silver medal for external publications produced in house.) MHA was pleased to share the night with many member hospitals who were also acknowledged for their communications and marketing excellence at the awards event. 

The promise of telemedicine

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22; 9 A.M. - 2:30 P.M.
MHA CONFERENCE CENTER, BURLINGTON, MASS.

As the healthcare system seeks to transform itself to address the needs of population health management, while adapting to new technologies and reformed payments systems, telemedicine has risen to the forefront as an essential tool for streamlining and improving care. Ongoing initiatives have demonstrated remarkable success. Pending legislative initiatives here in Massachusetts will hopefully may make telemedicine services even more accessible for patients and providers. No matter what regulatory landscape is in place, it’s clear that all providers should be ready for this new world. Join us at this conference where we’ll learn more about the many efforts toward making telemedicine more accessible both here in the commonwealth and across the country. We’ll also hear from providers and national experts about how telemedicine is already transforming care.

John LoDico, Editor