Cleveland Clinic Reduces ICU Transfers with Nurse-Led Program

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi reported a 23% reduction‍ in hospital-acquired infections on acute care units within six months of implementing a new rapid response system lead by critical care outreach nurses. The program also correlated with⁢ fewer Code‍ Blue activations and ‍cardiopulmonary arrests.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Infection Reduction

Cleveland Clinic Abu ‍Dhabi, a 364-bed hospital in the United Arab emirates managed by Cleveland ⁢Clinic, achieved a 23% decrease in hospital-acquired infections on its acute care units between an unspecified start‍ date and approximately six months later. This ⁤improvement is attributed to a new rapid response system focused on proactive patient monitoring and collaboration between intensive‍ care unit (ICU) and acute care unit (ACU) nurses.

The hospital did not specify the types of hospital-acquired infections reduced,nor the baseline infection rate prior to the program’s implementation. However,the reduction in infections was accompanied by a decrease in critical events,including ⁢Code Blue activations and cardiopulmonary arrests.

Critical Care Outreach⁣ Program Details

The program’s ⁣success is linked to the role of critical care outreach nurses, who proactively⁤ identify and address potential patient deterioration before it⁣ requires ⁣emergency intervention. These nurses build relationships with ACU nurses through joint rounds, structured care planning, and continuous improvement forums.

According to Elizabeth Craig, RN, a critical care outreach nurse involved in the program, the focus shifted from simply responding to alerts to preventing ⁣deterioration through⁤ collaborative care.⁣ She stated on January 6th (year unspecified in source) that outreach nurses are “rounding with ACU nurses, discussing concerns and helping create care plans that prevent deterioration.”

Hospital-Acquired Infections: A Global Concern

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are infections patients contract while ⁤receiving medical treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates ⁢that HAIs affect approximately 1⁢ in 31 hospital patients. Reducing HAIs is a major priority for healthcare institutions worldwide, as they contribute to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.

while the ‍specific‍ HAI types targeted by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi were not detailed, common HAIs include catheter-associated urinary‍ tract infections (CAUTIs), central line-associated ⁣bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), and surgical site infections ⁣(SSIs).