SEARCY -- Unity Health-White County Medical Center has been ranked among the top performing hospitals in health care associated infection prevention by a national magazine.
Consumer Reports rated the hospital third (in order of patient volume) among nine that "received higher ratings in preventing MRSA [methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus] and C. diff [Clostridium difficile] as well as other infections included in the magazine's ratings: surgical site infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and central line-associated bloodstream infections," according to a news release.
According to the release, the ratings were based off information submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between October 2013 and September 2014.
"We are very excited and humbled by our recognition," said Mary Lou Adams, Unity Health infection control nurse, about the national ranking.
Dr. Mark White, radiologist and chief of staff at Unity Health, attributed the success to Unity Health's "health-centered network comprised of people, various programs and guidelines."
"There's communication between various departments and services. They follow those standards and those guidelines." White said. "That's why patient safety is so good here,"
"We set the bar high here. Our people are trained well and it shows," said Connie Taylor, director of Case Management and Performance Improvement at Unity Health.
There were 105 hospitals that received the highest possible rating for MRSA and C. diff, meaning they reported either zero infections or "did much better than predicted compared with similar hospitals on both types of infections," according to Consumer Reports.
"These two bacteria used to be only in hospitals," White said. "Now they're community acquired, so people can come in with it. That's more of a challenge."
Adams detailed how Unity Health is using protocols such as strict handwashing, site care and cleaning procedures to control the spread of infectious diseases in the hospital. Each of these steps are tailored to the specific infection. For example, staff use bleach solutions and handwashing for C. diff because standard cleaners and alcohol hand sanitizer are ineffective in killing C. diff.
White explained Unity Health also practices antibiotic stewardship, which aims to match the patient with the antibiotic that is most effective for treating their illness in order to cut down on resistant infections.
Taylor added that Unity Health's adherence to guidelines is shown in their results.
"As new guidelines come out, we adopt them earlier rather than later," she said.
NW News on 08/02/2015