Preventing Hospital Acquired Infections
Hospital acquired infections (HAI) may cause a serious problem for patients. The North Shore-LIJ Health System has set a standard or goal for zero tolerance for healthcare acquired infection, and has received recognition at the national level from the National Patient Safety Foundation and at the state level from the Health Care Association of New York State (HANYS).
Eliminating Hospital Acquired Infections: Our Goals
Our goal is to eliminate hospital associated infections that arise 48 hours or later following admission to the hospital. Infections can cause patients to remain in the hospital for a longer than expected period of time due to required treatment and management of the infection. In certain severe situations an infection can cause death. As a result, the Health System has implemented a rigorous campaign to reduce the chance of acquiring hospital associated infections.
To reduce the chance of infection, risk reduction programs to decrease infections associated with a hospitalization have been established. These programs are based on recommendations of national agencies. In keeping with the national agenda to make hospitalizations safer for patients, the North Shore-LIJ Health System has the following goals to reduce healthcare associated infections:
- Reduce and eliminate healthcare associated central line associated bacteremias (CLABS) or bloodstream infections
- Reduce and eliminate healthcare associated Ventilator Associated Pneumonias
- Reduce and eliminate Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) associated with a surgical procedure performed in an ambulatory or in-patient setting
- Hand Hygiene
- Reducing infection through enhanced patient knowledge
- Commitment to decrease new and emerging pathogens that impact hospitalized patients are:
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