Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program Research Articles

The Impact of the Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program on the Perioperative Efficiency and Patient Safety of Adult Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Procedures: Retrospective Comparative Study

BackgroundThe complexity of health care delivery systems presents a unique challenge for the perioperative space. In the area of arthroplasty procedures, the shift of complex patients into ambulatory surgery centers and reimbursement that is no longer commensurate with the inflated costs of performing these procedures have created difficulties for hospitals and physicians alike. Thus, there is a critical need to optimize perioperative workflows while maintaining high-quality care provision. MethodsOur institution implemented the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) to improve the quality and efficiency of total knee and hip arthroplasties (TKAs and THAs). This initiative involved extensive collaboration with clinical and administrative teams, as well as 5 intervention-driven workgroups. First-case on-time start rates and duration of first-case delays, case length, anesthesia preparation, in-room patient preparation, operation, patient exit, and room turnover after CUSP implementation were analyzed using independent samples median testing, Mann-Whitney U testing, and a percentage-point difference calculation. ResultsAfter CUSP arthroplasty implementation, first-case on-time start rates increased from 43 to 81%. Statistically significant decreases were observed in median times for first-case delays, case length, in-room patient preparation, operation, patient exit, and room turnover for TKAs and THAs, but not anesthesia preparation. ConclusionsThe implementation of CUSP arthroplasty for TKAs and THAs resulted in significant improvements in nearly all efficiency metrics, as well as preventions of patient safety missteps. These results exemplify the versatility of CUSP as a quality improvement method that can maintain patient safety and perioperative efficiency in the arthroplasty service of a large-scale medical center. Level of EvidenceIII.

Implementation and long-term efficacy of a multifaceted intervention to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections in intensive care units of a low-middle-income country

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) pose a significant risk to critically ill patients, particularly in intensive care units (ICU), and are a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections. We investigated whether implementation of a multifaceted intervention was associated with reduced incidence of CLABSIs. This was a prospective cohort study over nine years. We implemented a bundled intervention approach to prevent CLABSIs, consisting of a comprehensive unit-based safety program (CUSP). The program was implemented in the Neonatal ICU, Medical ICU, and Surgical ICU departments at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Pakistan. The three intervention ICUs combined were associated with an overall 36% reduction in CLABSI rates and a sustained reduction in CLABSI rates for > a year (5 quarters). The Neonatal ICU experienced a decrease of 77% in CLABSI rates lasting ∼1 year (4 quarters). An attendance rate above 88% across all stakeholder groups in each CUSP meeting correlated with a better and more sustained infection reduction. Our multifaceted approach using the CUSP model was associated with reduced CLABSI-associated morbidity and mortality in resource-limited settings. Our findings suggest that a higher attendance rate (>85%) at meetings may be necessary to achieve sustained effects post-intervention.

Review: application of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) in primary care - a systematic synthesis on validity, descriptive and comparative results, and variance across organisational units

Patient safety research has focused mostly on the hospital and acute care setting whereas assessments of patient safety climate in primary health care settings are warranted. Valid questionnaires as e.g., the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) may capture staff perceptions of patient safety climate but until now, an overview of the use of SAQ in primary care has not been systematically presented. Thus, the aim of this systematic review is to present an overview of SAQ used in primary care.Methods The electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, Cinahl, PsycInfo and Web of Science were used to find studies that used any version of SAQ in primary care. Studies were excluded if only abstract or poster was available, as the information in abstract and posters was deemed insufficient. Commentaries and nonempirical studies (e.g., study protocols) were excluded. Only English manuscripts were included.Results A total of 43 studies were included and 40 of them fell into four categories: 1) validation analysis, 2) descriptive analysis, 3) variance assessment and 4) intervention evaluation and were included in further analyses. Some studies fell into more than one of the four categories. Seventeen studies aimed to validate different versions of SAQ in a variety of settings and providers. Twenty-five studies from fourteen different countries reported descriptive findings of different versions of SAQ in a variety of settings. Most studies were conducted in primary health care centres, out-of-hours clinics, nursing homes and general practice focusing on greatly varying populations. One study was conducted in home care. Three studies investigated variance of SAQ scores. Only five studies used SAQ to assess the effects of interventions/events. These studies evaluated the effect of electronic medical record implementation, a comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program or COVID-19.Conclusion The synthesis demonstrated that SAQ is valid for use in primary care, but it is important to adapt and validate the questionnaire to the specific setting and participants under investigation. Moreover, differences in SAQ factor scores were related to a variety of descriptive factors, that should be considered in future studies More studies, especially variance and intervention studies, are warranted in primary care.Trial registration This systematic review was not registered in any register.

Application of comprehensive unit-based safety program model to improve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with ovarian cancer: a retrospective study

BackgroundTo explore the effect of intervention programs constructed under the guidance of the comprehensive unit-based safety program (CUSP) model on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with ovarian cancer.MethodAccording to the time of admission, 90 ovarian cancer chemotherapy patients in the first affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2019 to September 2020 were divided into an intervention group and a control group with 45 cases each. Both groups of patients received routine intervention, and the intervention group implemented the CUSP program on this basis. The intervention lasted 8 months. Before and after the intervention, the patients in the ward were used the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Antiemesis Tool, the Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for the effect evaluation.ResultsAfter the intervention, the degree of nausea and vomiting frequency in the intervention group were significantly lower than that in the control group, especially the degree of nausea in the delayed phase (P < 0.05). The score of the functional living index-emesis in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05), and the anxiety and depression in the intervention group were significantly relieved compared to the control group (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe intervention program guided by the CUSP model can significantly alleviate patients’ nausea and vomiting, improve the quality of life, and relieve anxiety and depression. The CUSP model is suitable for clinical practice and has guiding significance for clinical work.

The feasibility of using of a comprehensive unit-based safety program (CUSP) for improving antimicrobial stewardship at a tertiary care hospital in national capital region of India: A prospective quasi experimental study

PurposeTo examine the feasibility of Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) as a strategy tool to improve antibiotic stewardship in low and middle income countries (LMIC) in resource limited setting. The primary outcome measure is identification of inappropriate prescriptions. The secondary outcome parameters are App adoption trends and antimicrobial prescription pattern and practices. Material and methodsA prospective quasi-experimental design was used to operationalizing the CUSP intervention. The project considered the data of 482 patients from two mixed Medical ICUs admitted during June 2019 to April 2020. The information was collected on antimicrobials prescription pattern and practices for identification of inappropriate use as well as app adoption trend with respect to Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Orders Placed, Clinical Notes and Checklist Filled. The intervention in the study comprised of development of an antibiotic monitoring stewardship (AMS) data collection app for ease of use and for Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) to identify the cases of inappropriate use of antibiotics. ResultsData of patients was reviewed to create algorithms for empirical and directed antibiotic therapy as well as to create a CDSS app. Out of 793 prescriptions initially during July–September 2019, 19 (2.4%) were inappropriate antimicrobial prescription. The continuous monitoring of antimicrobial prescription helped in reducing the irrational use and bring it to level zero at the end. ConclusionIt requires commitment from the management, and seamless communication within Clinical, Microbiology, Pharmacology and data management teams to create and run a successful CUSP program towards Antimicrobial Resistance. Tools such as the CDSS can smoothen the process.

Quality Improvement Report: Safety Program for Prevention of Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infections.

The increasing usage of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in medical imaging departments has led to a corresponding increase in cases of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). However, this condition is preventable with proper monitoring and use of aseptic techniques. A Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) is a quality improvement (QI) measure implemented by health care institutions to reduce the incidence of CLABSI. However, effective strategies have yet to be established. The authors describe a QI project that evaluated the implementation of CUSP at a teaching hospital to reduce PICC-associated bloodstream infection (BSI). The framework consists of a five-step process: understand and train staff on the science of safety, assemble a team, engage senior executives, identify defects through sensemaking, and implement teamwork and communication strategies in a series of related and sequential steps that use QI tools. Targets were identified for improvement from existing processes, and the workflow was reengineered. Nine months after the start of the CUSP intervention, PICC-associated BSI incidence in the hospital had been reduced from 3.4 to 2.7 per 1000 central lines days after intervention. The incidence of BSI was also reduced correspondingly from 8.8% to 5.9%. The QI processes in this study may be adopted by other hospitals, as they involve minimal cost with significant impact on patient safety and well-being. The QI sequential steps described capture the implementation processes that can be modified for use in other department settings where patient safety could be compromised. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2022.

UPAYA MENINGKATKAN BUDAYA KESELAMATAN PASIEN DI PUSKESMAS

Patient safety concerns can help minimize the risk of KTD, reduce the occurrence of medical disputes, reduce conflicts between health workers and patients, reduce the lawsuits process, and dismiss allegations of malpractice which is increasing lately. The achievement of a good patient culture is done by building an understanding of the norms, beliefs, attitudes, and values that are important to nursing organizations. The systematic review of this study is aimed at identifying patient safety measures implemented by different countries to look at the effectiveness of patient safety culture in primary health care in global coverage. This research uses systematic review methods. Searching for journals was conducted in three well-known journals such as Proquest, ScienceDirect, and Scopus in the 2015-2021 publishing year. The term used is patient safety in the primary health care area and the community, as well as efforts made. Research on the database identified 7,967 articles to be filtered. After sorting and verifying the paper, data was taken from 12 papers explaining the culture of patient safety in primary health care. The articles taken have global coverage with research originating in several countries namely; Manchester, Sweden, Yemen, Lebanon, Germany, and Brazil. Characteristics of the study are grouped into the following themes: Patient safety in primary health care, and patient safety events in primary health care, Measurement of patient safety in primary health care, and Methods/ efforts to improve patient safety in primary health care. Tools that are used to measure patient safety, in general, are SAQ (Safety Attitudes Questionnaire), MOSPC (Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture), and SOPS(Survey on Patient Safety Culture). This systematic review shows that many measurements can be taken to identify patient safety culture applications. Several efforts can be made to improve patient safety application, one of the important efforts in improving patient safety is improving knowledge. Education is an important step for the best patient safety intervention efforts. One of the programs that can be useful for the development of patient safety is the CUSP (Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program) program.

Changing Unit Culture to Improve Patient Care Through Lean Management of Infant Feeding Assessment

In 2020 the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Maternal Child Comprehensive Unit Based Safety Program (CUSP) committee identified that nursing documentation of infant feeding times, latch scores, and stool assessments did not meet policy or best practice standards. Concerned for potential unsafe feeding practices, increased formula supplementation, and delayed discharge, the committee adopted this as a quality improvement project.

Implementation of the Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program to Improve Infection Prevention and Control Practices in Four Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Pune, India.

Objective: To implement the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) in four neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Pune, India, to improve infection prevention and control (IPC) practices.Design: In this quasi-experimental study, we implemented CUSP in four NICUs in Pune, India, to improve IPC practices in three focus areas: hand hygiene, aseptic technique for invasive procedures, and medication and intravenous fluid preparation and administration. Sites received training in CUSP methodology, formed multidisciplinary teams, and selected interventions for each focus area. Process measures included fidelity to CUSP, hand hygiene compliance, and central line insertion checklist completion. Outcome measures included the rate of healthcare-associated bloodstream infection (HA-BSI), all-cause mortality, patient safety culture, and workload.Results: A total of 144 healthcare workers and administrators completed CUSP training. All sites conducted at least 75% of monthly meetings. Hand hygiene compliance odds increased 6% per month [odds ratio (OR) 1.06 (95% CI 1.03–1.10)]. Providers completed insertion checklists for 68% of neonates with a central line; 83% of checklists were fully completed. All-cause mortality and HA-BSI rate did not change significantly after CUSP implementation. Patient safety culture domains with greatest improvement were management support for patient safety (+7.6%), teamwork within units (+5.3%), and organizational learning—continuous improvement (+4.7%). Overall workload increased from a mean score of 46.28 ± 16.97 at baseline to 65.07 ± 19.05 at follow-up (p < 0.0001).Conclusion: CUSP implementation increased hand hygiene compliance, successful implementation of a central line insertion checklist, and improvements in safety culture in four Indian NICUs. This multimodal strategy is a promising framework for low- and middle-income country healthcare facilities to reduce HAI risk in neonates.

A Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to Improve Perioperative Efficiency in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Addressing operational inefficiencies in operating rooms (ORs) enhances patient access to care, reduces delays, and improves employee and patient satisfaction. The Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) promotes patient safety through increased teamwork, empowerment of frontline staff, and utilization of science of safety principles. CUSP has demonstrated success in outpatient and inpatient settings to decrease complication rates and establish a culture of safety but has been used minimally in the perioperative setting. In this study, the CUSP methodology was utilized to improve perioperative efficiency in pediatric spine surgery, and preimplementation and postimplementation efficiency were compared, using the rate of first case on-time starts (FCOTS) as the primary metric. A CUSP quality improvement workgroup including nurses, technicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and administrators sought feedback on opportunities for improvement and tracked key performance metrics in the OR from 2015 to 2020. Key interventions developed in response to feedback included standardizing and streamlining room setup and adjusting staffing models for greater efficiency. Univariate analysis was conducted to compare time periods pre-CUSP and post-CUSP implementation. First case on-time starts increased from 38% to a high of 81% after implementation. For more complex cases, the average patient in the room to anesthesia ready time improved by 31% with decreased variance over time, and average closure to patient out of room time improved by 45%. Improvements were sustained through Year 3, while CUSP remained a primary focus for the team. CUSP is effective in enhancing perioperative efficiency, demonstrating strong improvement in on-time starts over 5 years. The results indicate that process improvement in ORs requires consistent attention to sustain gains over time. Engaging frontline staff in quality improvement fosters collaboration and provides employee buy-in to promoting a culture of safety and improving value in patient care. Level III-retrospective comparative study.

Application of comprehensive unit-based safety program model in the inter-hospital transfer of patients with critical diseases: a retrospective controlled study

BackgroundTo explore the effect of applying a comprehensive unit-based safety program (CUSP) in the intrahospital transfer of patients with critical diseases.MethodsA total of 426 critically ill patients in the first affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from August 2018 to February 2019 were divided into two groups according to the time of admission. Overall, 202 patients in the control group were treated with the routine transfer method, and 224 patients in the observational group were treated with the transfer method based on the CUSP model. The safety culture assessment data of medical staff, the occurrence rate of adverse events and related causes, the time of transfer, and the satisfaction of patients’ relatives to the transfer process were compared before and after implementation of the transfer model between the two groups.ResultsBefore and after the implementation of the CUSP mode transfer program, there were significant differences in the scores of all dimensions of the safety culture assessment of medical staff (P < 0.05), and the occurrence rate of adverse events and the causes in the observational group were significantly lower than those in the control group (disease-related, staff-related, equipment-related, environment-related) (P < 0.05). The transfer time for Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), operating room, and the interventional room was significantly shorter in the observational group than that in the control group (P < 0.05), while the satisfaction of relatives to the transfer process was significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe implementation of CUSP model for the intrahospital transfer of critically ill patients can significantly shorten the in-hospital transfer time, improve the attitude of medical staff towards safety, reduce the occurrence rate of adverse events, and improve the satisfaction of patients’ relatives to the transfer process.

Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Part LXXXVI: Teamwork and the Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program.

The Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program or CUSP is a methodology to enhance teamwork and improve safety by building on the TeamSTEPPS program, the concepts of a safety culture, knowledge of safety science, engaging patients and their families, and standard change management techniques. It can be used with multiple other approaches to help healthcare organizations achieve high reliability.

An AHRQ national quality improvement project for implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery

The Improving Surgical Care and Recovery (ISCR) Program is a collaboration of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to accelerate adoption of enhanced recovery practices. The project aims to achieve enhanced recovery adoption across the United States (US) by disseminating easy to use materials and providing implementation support to US hospitals that are seeking to implement enhanced recovery practices within the framework of the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP), a well-known model for sustainable safety improvement. Now in its third year, ISCR has shown improved adoption of enhanced recovery practices, improved patient outcomes, and decreased healthcare utilization in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

Implementation of the Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program to Improve Hand Hygiene in Four NICUs in Pune, India

Background: In low- and middle-income country (LMIC) healthcare facilities, gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) practices increase risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and mortality among hospitalized neonates. Method: In this quasi-experimental study, we implemented the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) to improve adherence to evidence-based IPC practices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in 4 tertiary-care facilities in Pune, India. CUSP is a validated strategy to empower staff to improve unit-level patient safety. Baseline safety culture was measured using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS). Baseline IPC assessments using the Infection Control Assessment Tool (ICAT) were completed to describe existing IPC practices to identify focus areas, the first of which was hand hygiene (HH). Sites received training in CUSP methodology and formed multidisciplinary CUSP teams, which met monthly and were supported by monthly coaching calls. Staff safety assessments (SSAs) guided selection of multimodal interventions. HH compliance was measured by direct observation using trained external observers. The primary outcome was HH compliance, evaluated monthly during the implementation and maintenance phases. Secondary outcomes included CUSP meeting frequency and HH compliance by healthcare worker (HCW) role. Result: In March 2018, 144 HCWs and administrators participated in CUSP training. Site meetings occurred monthly. During the implementation phase (June 2018–January 2019), HH monitoring commenced, sites formed their teams, completed the SSA, and selected interventions to improve HH based on the WHO’s IPC multimodal improvement strategy: (1) system change; (2) training and education; (3) monitoring and feedback; (4) reminders and communication; and (5) a culture of safety (Fig. 1). During the maintenance phase (February–September 2019), HH was monitored monthly and sites adapted interventions as needed. HH compliance improved from 58% to 70% at participant sites from implementation to maintenance phases (Fig. 2), with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.66 (95% CI, 1.50–1.84; P &lt; .001). HH compliance improved across all HCW roles: (1) physician compliance improved from 55% to 67% (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.42–2.01; P &lt; .001); (2) nurse compliance from 61% to 73% (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.46–1.93; P &lt; .001); and (3) other HCW compliance from 52% to 62% (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.10–1.99; P = .010). Conclusion: CUSP was successfully adapted by 4 diverse tertiary-care NICUs in Pune, India, and it resulted in increased HH compliance at all sites. This multimodal strategy is a promising framework for LMIC healthcare facilities to sustainably address IPC gaps and reduce HAI and mortality in neonates.Funding: NoneDisclosures: Aaron Milstone, Johns Hopkins University, BD (consulting)

Implementation of a comprehensive unit-based safety program to reduce surgical site infections in cesarean delivery

To evaluate whether using a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to implement an evidence-based bundle can reduce 30-day surgical site infection rates in women undergoing cesarean delivery. This observational study with a preintervention and postintervention design included 2576 consecutive women undergoing cesarean delivery at our tertiary care hospital between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017. The primary outcome was 30-day surgical site infection rate after cesarean delivery defined according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. The preintervention period span from the January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014. After initiation of a Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (ie, a continuous quality improvement program to improve patient safety using a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach adapted on local demands), we introduced a bundle of evidence-based interventions (including preoperative shower, hair removal with clippers, correct antibiotic prophylaxis, maintaining normothermia, glycemic control, and strict compliance with hygiene standards as well as practice good hand hygiene) per January 1, 2015 into clinical routine. The postintervention period span from January 1, 2015 to December 31 2017. In the preintervention period the overall surgical site infection rate was 16 of 1,060 cesarean deliveries versus in the postintervention period the overall surgical site infection rate was 9 of 1,516 cesarean deliveries (1.50% vs 0.56%; P = .033). This corresponds to a relative risk reduction of over 60% after implementation of the evidence-based bundle (odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.17-0.89; P = .020). In the present study, we have adapted the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program strategy to implement an evidence based-bundle into clinical routine. Using this comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach, we could markedly reduce 30-day surgical site infections.

Multistate programme to reduce catheter-associated infections in intensive care units with elevated infection rates

BackgroundPreventing central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) remains challenging in intensive care units (ICUs).ObjectiveThe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for ICUs aimed...

Words to Live By: Key Messages in the Fight Against Infection

Words to Live By: Key Messages in the Fight Against Infection

A comprehensive unit-based safety program for the reduction of surgical site infections in plastic surgery and hand surgery.

To reduce surgical site infection (SSI) incidence in plastic surgery and hand surgery. Uncontrolled before-and-after study. Department of plastic surgery and hand surgery of a tertiary-care teaching hospital. Patients undergoing surgery between January 2016 and April 2018. A comprehensive unit-based safety program (CUSP) consisting of a bundle of evidence-based SSI prevention strategies and a change in safety culture was fully implemented after a 14-month baseline surveillance and implementation period. SSI surveillance was performed over an intervention period of another 14 months, and differences in SSI rates between the 2 periods were calculated. Adherence with bundle components and risk factors for SSI were further evaluated in a case-cohort analysis. Of 3,321 patients, 63 (1.9%) developed an SSI, 38 of 1,722 (2.2%) in the baseline group and 25 of 1,599 (1.6%) in the intervention group (P = .20). The CUSP was associated with an adjusted relative SSI risk reduction of 41% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4%-65%; P = .048) in multivariable analysis, whereas the need for revision surgery increased SSI risk (odds ratio [OR], 2.63; 95% CI, 1.31-5.30; P = .007). During the intervention period, the proportion of checklists completed was 62.4%, and no difference in adherence with bundle components between patients with and without SSI was observed. This CUSP helped reduce SSI in a surgical specialty with a low baseline SSI incidence, even though adherence with checklist completion was moderate and the main modifiable risk factors remained unchanged over time. Programs that include safety culture change may more effectively promote SSI reduction than prevention bundles alone.

Reducing Three Infections Across Cardiac Surgery Programs: A Multisite Cross-Unit Collaboration

Using a pre-post design, this study examined the impact of a multifaceted program to simultaneously improve 3 health care-associated infections and patient safety culture throughout the cardiac surgery service line in 11 hospitals. Interventions included the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to improve safety culture and evidence-based bundles to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), surgical site infection (SSI), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). CLABSIs and SSIs showed a downward trend over 2 years, then the rates returned to levels similar to baseline in the third year. VAP rate changes were difficult to interpret because of the VAP definition change. Patient safety culture domain "hospital management support" showed significant improvement, but feedback and communication about errors and staffing declined. Simultaneous implementation of multiple interventions across units is challenging. The findings highlight the importance of sustainment efforts and suggest future work should anticipate both positive and negative change in safety culture dimensions.

A demonstration project on the impact of safety culture on infection control practices in hemodialysis

Infections among hemodialysis patients continues to be major causes of morbidity and mortality despite advances in the science of infection prevention. Many infections are potentially preventable, yet research suggests that evidence-based interventions are not uniformly practiced in dialysis settings. The purpose of the project was to reduce the risk of infection among hemodialysis patients in an outpatient dialysis clinic in upstate New York through the development of an enhanced patient safety culture. A survey was used to assess the safety culture of a large outpatient dialysis program. A Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program was instituted to enhance infection prevention practices. Evidence-based checklists and audit tools were used to track staff adherence to protocols. Scores on the survey were strongly correlated with bloodstream infection rates. Adherence to infection control standards improved when the End Stage Renal Disease Safety Program was implemented, with audits improving from 27%-82% of procedures performed correctly. Bloodstream infection rates decreased from 2.33-1.07 events per 100 patient months, and the standardized infection ratios decreased from 1.960-0.985 in the 12-months after implementation. The Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program model and implementation of the safety program may be effective in improving the culture of safety and adherence to evidence-based practices in hemodialysis. Enhanced patient safety culture is correlated with improved patient outcomes.