The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) have chosen The University of Vermont Medical Center to receive the 2014 “Partnership in Prevention Award” for achieving sustainable improvements in eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).  It is the only healthcare organization in the nation to receive the award.

Since 2008, infection prevention specialists, and experts at the Jeffords Institute for Quality at The University of Vermont Medical Center have engaged multidisciplinary teams to target central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), surgical site infections (SSI), and other HAIs in multiple patient populations resulting in excellent patient outcomes. Collaboration occurs across ranks and disciplines, involving executive leadership, all levels of providers, quality improvement experts from the Jeffords Institute for Quality, environmental services staff, and a team of infection prevention advocates from across the hospital, ambulatory clinics, and dialysis centers.

Achievements include:

• No surgical site infections in knee replacements in the past four years - a total of 1,677 procedures.
• CLABSI have been virtually eliminated in Intensive Care Units, including a three year period of zero infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• Led an effort with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create new national guidelines for dialysis care that are reducing CLABSI rates.

“This prestigious award is one of several recent affirmations of our commitment to providing the safest possible care to each patient,” says John Brumsted, M.D., president and CEO of The University of Vermont Medical Center and The University of Vermont Health Network.  “I couldn’t be more proud of our dedicated providers and hundreds of other staff who have made us a national model for advancing evidenced-based practice in reducing healthcare-associated infections.”

“I'm proud of The University of Vermont Medical Center for being selected out of all the hospitals in the country for its excellent infection prevention results,” says Governor Peter Shumlin.  “It's another reminder that Vermonters are fortunate to have access to some of the best care in the country close to home.”

“The award recognizes years of hard work, and reflects the success that is possible when broad, multidisciplinary teams involved in every aspect of patient care are engaged, educated, and empowered,” says W. Kemper Alston, M.D., medical director of infection prevention at The University of Vermont Medical Center and professor of medicine at the UVM College of Medicine.

“The University of Vermont Medical Center addressed HAIs at every level, and throughout its care settings, achieving tremendous results,” says Jennie L. Mayfield, B.S.N., M.P.H., C.I.C., APIC president. “Their organization-wide achievements serve as an excellent model for other facilities seeking to reduce healthcare-associated infections.”

“The University of Vermont Medical Center has developed innovative and creative solutions to sustain prevention of HAIs in some of its most vulnerable patient populations,” says Daniel Diekema, M.D., president of the SHEA. “They are a great example of how engaging the entire healthcare team can effectively prevent infections.” 

An estimated 1 in every 25 inpatients in the U.S. has an infection related to hospital care, resulting in about 75,000 deaths each year – more than are caused by AIDS, breast cancer, and auto accidents combined.

About APIC
APIC’s mission is to create a safer world through prevention of infection. The association’s more than 15,000 members direct infection prevention programs that save lives and improve the bottom line for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. APIC advances its mission through patient safety, implementation science, competencies and certification, advocacy, and data standardization. Visit APIC online at www.apic.org. Follow APIC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apic and Facebook: www.facebook.com/APICInfectionPreventionandYou. For information on what patients and families can do, visit APIC’s new Infection Prevention and You website at www.apic.org/infectionpreventionandyou.

About SHEA
SHEA is a professional society representing more than 2,000 physicians and other healthcare professionals around the world with expertise in healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention and control. SHEA’s mission is to prevent and control HAIs and to advance the field of healthcare epidemiology. SHEA leads this field by promoting science and research and providing high-quality education and training in epidemiologic methods and prevention strategies.