|  Reducing the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in a health care organization is not just the job of nurses or surgeons — it is everyone's job. And "everyone" does not mean only clinical personnel, but anyone who interacts with patients or has a role in any care process, such as operating room technicians and environmental services personnel. It is therefore absolutely essential that surgical infection reduction efforts be led by a multidisciplinary core team. An organization typically has several teams working on more than one aim at a time, but they should all report to one oversight team.
Click here for more information and general tips on Setting Aims, Establishing Measures, Selecting Changes, or Testing Changes. |
| | | | | Example 1: Reducing Cardiac Surgical Site Infections Aim
Double the number of surgical cases between cardiac surgical site infections (SSIs) within 13 months. Core Team
The overall core team must be interdisciplinary and must include, at a minimum: Additional team members - Infection Control Nurse
- Quality director
- Risk manager
Sub-teams may be formed to work on key changes (use of antibiotics, maintenance of normothermia, control of glucose) since work should be done in parallel, but all should be coordinated and overseen by the core team.
| | | | | Example 2: Reducing Orthopedic Surgical Site Infections Aim
Achieve 100% compliance with appropriate selection and timing of prophylactic antibiotic administration within 13 months. Sub-team (working with the core team) One person, not necessarily the physician, should serve as the day-to-day leader who can apply expertise to (or acquire expertise in) using Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles and testing changes on a small scale.
| | | | | Example 3: Reducing Cardiac Surgical Site Infections Aim
Achieve 100 percent of surgical patients being normothermic on arrival to post-anesthesia care unit within 13 months. Sub-team (working with the core team) -
Nurse from Operating Room -
Anesthesiologist -
Nurse Educator for peri-operative services -
Operating Room technician or assistant
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