A Program to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection in Acute Care.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common device-associated infection in hospitals. Both technical factors--appropriate catheter use, aseptic insertion, and proper maintenance--and socioadaptive factors, such as cultural and behavioral changes in hospital units, are important in preventing catheter-associated UTI. METHODS: The national Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program, funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, aimed to reduce catheter-associated UTI in intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICUs. The main program features were dissemination of information to sponsor organizations and hospitals, data collection, and guidance on key technical and socioadaptive factors in the prevention of catheter-associated UTI. Data on catheter use and catheter-associated UTI rates were collected during three phases: baseline (3 months), implementation (2 months), and sustainability (12 months). Multilevel negative binomial models were used to assess changes in catheter use and catheter-associated UTI rates. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 926 units (59.7% were non-ICUs, and 40.3% were ICUs) in 603 hospitals in 32 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The unadjusted catheter-associated UTI rate decreased overall from 2.82 to 2.19 infections per 1000 catheter-days. In an adjusted analysis, catheter-associated UTI rates decreased from 2.40 to 2.05 infections per 1000 catheter-days (incidence rate ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76 to 0.96; P=0.009). Among non-ICUs, catheter use decreased from 20.1% to 18.8% (incidence rate ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90 to 0.96; P<0.001) and catheter-associated UTI rates decreased from 2.28 to 1.54 infections per 1000 catheter-days (incidence rate ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.82; P<0.001). Catheter use and catheter-associated UTI rates were largely unchanged in ICUs. Tests for heterogeneity (ICU vs. non-ICU) were significant for catheter use (P=0.004) and catheter-associated UTI rates (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A national prevention program appears to reduce catheter use and catheter-associated UTI rates in non-ICUs. (Funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.).

Protocol-Based Resuscitation Bundle to Improve Outcomes in Septic Shock Patients: Evaluation of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association Keystone Sepsis Collaborative.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of a multi-ICU quality improvement collaborative implementing a protocol-based resuscitation bundle to treat septic shock patients. DESIGN: A difference-in-differences analysis compared patient outcomes in hospitals participating in the Michigan Health & Hospital Association Keystone Sepsis collaborative (n = 37) with noncollaborative hospitals (n = 50) pre- (2010-2011) and postimplementation (2012-2013). Collaborative hospitals were also stratified as high (n = 19) and low (n = 18) adherence based on their overall bundle adherence. SETTING: Eighty-seven Michigan hospitals with ICUs. PATIENTS: We compared 22,319 septic shock patients in collaborative hospitals compared to 26,055 patients in noncollaborative hospitals using the Michigan Inpatient Database. INTERVENTIONS: Multidisciplinary ICU teams received informational toolkits, standardized screening tools, and continuous quality improvement, aided by cultural improvement. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In-hospital mortality and hospital length of stay significantly improved between pre- and postimplementation periods for both collaborative and noncollaborative hospitals. Comparing collaborative and noncollaborative hospitals, we found no additional reductions in mortality (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.87-1.01; p = 0.106) or length of stay (-0.3 d; 95% CI, -0.7 to 0.1 d; p = 0.174). Compared to noncollaborative hospitals, high adherence hospitals had significant reductions in mortality (odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79-0.93; p < 0.001) and length of stay (-0.7 d; 95% CI, -1.1 to -0.2; p < 0.001), whereas low adherence hospitals did not (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.97-1.19; p = 0.197; 0.2 d; 95% CI, -0.3 to 0.8; p = 0.367). CONCLUSIONS: Participation in the Keystone Sepsis collaborative was unable to improve patient outcomes beyond concurrent trends. High bundle adherence hospitals had significantly greater improvements in outcomes, but further work is needed to understand these findings.

Diverse attitudes to and understandings of spontaneous awakening trials: results from a statewide quality improvement collaborative*.

OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous awakening trials (SATs) improve outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients, but implementation remains erratic. We examined variation in reported practice, prevalence of attitudes and fears regarding spontaneous awakening trials, and organizational practices associated with routine implementation of spontaneous awakening trials in an ICU quality improvement collaborative. DESIGN: Written survey. SETTING: Michigan Health and Hospital Association's Keystone ICU, a quality improvement collaborative of 73 hospitals. SUBJECTS: Attendees of the yearly Keystone ICU meeting, January 2011, including nurses, physicians, hospital administrators, and other healthcare professionals. INTERVENTION: Respondents were asked about institutional characteristics, spontaneous awakening trial practice, attitudes and barriers regarding spontaneous awakening trials, and organizational cultural characteristics that might influence SAT practice. The association of organizational cultural characteristics and attitudes with reported spontaneous awakening trial use was evaluated using logistic regression. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three hundred nineteen participants attended the meeting. The survey response rate was 83.4%. Respondents reported wide variation in approach to spontaneous awakening trial performance and patient selection. 48.6% of respondents reported regular spontaneous awakening trial use, defined as greater than 75% of mechanically ventilated patients undergoing spontaneous awakening trials each day. In bivariable analysis, addressing sedation goals routinely in rounds and having spontaneous awakening trials as part of unit culture were positively associated with regular spontaneous awakening trial use, whereas the perception that spontaneous awakening trials increased short-term adverse effects, staff fears of spontaneous awakening trials, and the perception that spontaneous awakening trials are hard work were negatively associated with regular spontaneous awakening trial use. In multivariable analysis, only addressing sedation in rounds (odds ratio, 2.85 [95% CI, 1.55-5.23]), incorporation of spontaneous awakening trials into unit culture (odds ratio, 3.36 [95% CI, 1.75-6.43]), and the perception that spontaneous awakening trials are hard work (odds ratio, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.30-0.96]) remained statistically significantly associated with regular spontaneous awakening trial use. Respondents in managerial positions were less likely to perceive spontaneous awakening trials as hard work (odds ratio, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.22-0.85]). CONCLUSIONS: Even in a motivated statewide quality improvement collaborative, spontaneous awakening trial practice varies widely and concerns persist regarding spontaneous awakening trials. Cultural practices may counteract the effect of concerns regarding spontaneous awakening trials and are associated with increased performance of this beneficial intervention. Patient selection should be a focus for continuing medical education. Differences in perception of work between management and staff may also be a focus for improved communication.

Are racial disparities in stroke care still prevalent in certified stroke centers?

Racial differences in stroke risk and risk factor prevalence are well established. The present study explored racial differences in the delivery of care to patients with acute stroke between Joint Commission (JC)-certified hospitals and noncertified hospitals. A retrospective chart review was conducted in patients sustaining ischemic stroke admitted to 5 JC-certified centers and 5 noncertified hospitals. Demographic data, risk factors, utilization of acute stroke therapies, and compliance with core measures were recorded. Racial disparities were investigated in the entire group as well as for JC-certified and noncertified hospitals separately. A total of 574 patients (25.1% African Americans) were included. African Americans were significantly younger and more likely to have previous stroke, whereas Caucasians were more likely to have coronary disease and atrial fibrillation. There were no racial differences in other risk factors or baseline functions. Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores were similar in African Americans and Caucasians, as were proportions receiving intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) therapy (2.1% in African Americans, 3.5% in Caucasians; P = .40) and intervention (4.2% in African Americans, 6.8% in Caucasians; P = .26). Caucasians were more likely to arrive by emergency medical services (65.5% vs 51.5%; P = .004), to be evaluated by a stroke team (19.1% vs 7.7%; P = .001), and to have a documented National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (40.2% vs 29.9%; P = .03). African Americans often did not receive intravenous tPA because of a delay in arrival. African Americans performed better on virtually all stroke care variables in JC-certified centers. JC certification reduced disparity in certain variables, including tPA and deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis administration. Important racial disparities exist in the delivery of several acute stroke care variables. Efforts must be focused on eliminating disparities in prehospital delays. Guideline-based care tendered at JC-certified centers might help narrow disparities in acute stroke care delivery.

Using the Opportunity Estimator tool to improve engagement in a quality and safety intervention.

Teams throughout the United States participating in a program to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are using the Opportunity Estimator. This web-based tool translates CLABSI-related data into "opportunity estimates" of the patient lives and money that could be saved by reducing these infections.

Assessing and improving safety climate in a large cohort of intensive care units.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of a comprehensive unit-based safety program on safety climate in a large cohort of intensive care units participating in the Keystone intensive care unit project. DESIGN/SETTING: A prospective cohort collaborative study to improve quality of care and safety culture by implementing and evaluating patient safety interventions in intensive care units predominantly in the state of Michigan. INTERVENTIONS: The comprehensive unit-based safety program was the first intervention implemented by every intensive care unit participating in the collaborative. It is specifically designed to improve the various elements of a unit's safety culture, such as teamwork and safety climate. We administered the validated Safety Attitudes Questionnaire at baseline (2004) and after 2 yrs of exposure to the safety program (2006) to assess improvement. The safety climate domain on the survey includes seven items. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Post-safety climate scores for intensive care units. To interpret results, a score of <60% was in the "needs improvement" zone and a ≥10-point discrepancy in pre-post scores was needed to describe a difference. Hospital bed size, teaching status, and faith-based status were included in our analyses. Seventy-one intensive care units returned surveys in 2004 and 2006 with 71% and 73% response rates, respectively. Overall mean safety climate scores significantly improved from 42.5% (2004) to 52.2% (2006), t = -6.21, p < .001, with scores higher in faith-based intensive care units and smaller-bed-size hospitals. In 2004, 87% of intensive care units were in the "needs improvement" range and in 2006, 47% were in this range or did not score ≥10 points or higher. Five of seven safety climate items significantly improved from 2004 to 2006. CONCLUSIONS: A patient safety program designed to improve teamwork and culture was associated with significant improvements in overall mean safety climate scores in a large cohort of 71 intensive care units. Research linking improved climate scores and clinical outcomes is a critical next step.

Michigan Health & Hospital Association Keystone Obstetrics: a statewide collaborative for perinatal patient safety in Michigan.

BACKGROUND: Preventable harm to mothers and infants during labor and birth is a significant patient safety and professional liability issue. A Michigan Health & Hospital Association Keystone Center for Patient Safety & Quality Obstetric Collaborative Project involved perinatal teams from 15 Michigan hospitals during an 11-month period in 2009. The purpose of the project was to promote safe care practices during labor and birth using the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP). Consistent with the CUSP model, this project's components included assessing and promoting a culture of safety; interdisciplinary team building; case review; learning from defects through multiple methods of education; team and individual coaching and peer encouragement; administrative support for the establishment of a fundamental safety infrastructure; and ongoing evaluation of care processes and outcomes. METHODS: Study measures included 32 components of a perinatal patient infrastructure, 6 care processes during labor and birth, and 4 neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: Significant improvements were found in the safety culture (Safety Attitudes Questionnaire), the perinatal patient safety infrastructure components, and all care processes. CONCLUSIONS: Although the project was successful, getting buy-in from all members of the clinical team in each hospital for all of the measures was challenging at times. There was initial resistance to some of the measures and their various expected aspects of care. For example, some of the clinicians were initially reluctant to adopt the recommended standardized oxytocin protocol. Peer encouragement and unit-based feedback on progress in minimizing early elective births proved useful in many hospitals. A CUSP in obstetrics can be beneficial in improving the care of mothers and infants during labor and birth.

Organizational Characteristics Associated With ICU Liberation (ABCDEF) Bundle Implementation by Adult ICUs in Michigan.

The ICU Liberation (ABCDEF) Bundle can help to improve care and outcomes for ICU patients, but bundle implementation is far from universal. Understanding how ICU organizational characteristics influence bundle implementation could inform quality improvement efforts. We surveyed all hospitals in Michigan with adult ICUs to determine whether organizational characteristics were associated with bundle implementation and to determine the level of agreement between ICU physician and nurse leaders around ICU organizational characteristics and bundle implementation. DESIGN: We surveyed ICU physician and nurse leaders, assessing their safety culture, ICU team collaboration, and work environment. Using logistic and linear regression models, we compared these organizational characteristics to bundle element implementation, and also compared physician and nurse leaders' perceptions about organizational characteristics and bundle implementation. SETTING: All (n = 72) acute care hospitals with adult ICUs in Michigan. SUBJECTS: ICU physician and nurse leader pairs from each hospital's main ICU. INTERVENTIONS: We developed, pilot-tested, and deployed an electronic survey to all subjects over a 3 month period in 2016. RESULTS: Results from 73 surveys (28 physicians, 45 nurses, 60% hospital response rate) demonstrated significant variation in hospital and ICU size and type, organizational characteristics, and physician/nurse perceptions of ICU organization and bundle implementation. We found that a robust safety culture and collaborative work environment that uses checklists to facilitate team communication are strongly associated with bundle implementation. There is also a significant dose-response effect between safety culture, a collaborative work environment, and overall bundle implementation. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several specific ICU practices that can facilitate ABCDEF Bundle implementation. Our results can be used to develop effective bundle implementation strategies that leverage safety culture, interprofessional collaboration, and routine checklist use in ICUs to improve bundle implementation and performance.

Improving data quality control in quality improvement projects.

BACKGROUND: The results of many quality improvement (QI) projects are gaining wide-spread attention. Policy-makers, hospital leaders and clinicians make important decisions based on the assumption that QI project results are accurate. However, compared with clinical research, QI projects are typically conducted with substantially fewer resources, potentially impacting data quality. Our objective was to provide a primer on basic data quality control methods appropriate for QI efforts. METHODS: Data quality control methods should be applied throughout all phases of a QI project. In the design phase, project aims should guide data collection decisions, emphasizing quality (rather than quantity) of data and considering resource limitations. In the data collection phase, standardized data collection forms, comprehensive staff training and a well-designed database can help maximize the quality of the data. Clearly defined data elements, quality assurance reviews of both collection and entry and system-based controls reduce the likelihood of error. In the data management phase, missing data should be quickly identified and corrected with system-based controls to minimize the missing data. Finally, in the data analysis phase, appropriate statistical methods and sensitivity analysis aid in managing and understanding the effects of missing data and outliers, in addressing potential confounders and in conveying the precision of results. CONCLUSION: Data quality control is essential to ensure the integrity of results from QI projects. Feasible methods are available and important to help ensure that stakeholder's decisions are based on accurate data.

Translating health care-associated urinary tract infection prevention research into practice via the bladder bundle.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), a frequent health care-associated infection (HAI), is a costly and common condition resulting in patient discomfort, activity restriction, and hospital discharge delays. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) no longer reimburses hospitals for the extra cost of caring for patients who develop CAUTI. The Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA) Keystone Center for Patient Safety & Quality has initiated a statewide initiative, MHA Keystone HAI, to help ameliorate the burden of disease associated with indwelling catheterization. In addition, a long-term research project is being conducted to evaluate the current initiative and to identify practical strategies to ensure the effective use of proven infection prevention and patient safety practices. OVERVIEW OF THE BLADDER BUNDLE INITIATIVE IN MICHIGAN: The bladder bundle as conceived by MHA Keystone HAI focuses on preventing CAUTI by optimizing the use of urinary catheters with a specific emphasis on continual assessment and catheter removal as soon as possible, especially for patients without a clear indication. COLLABORATION BETWEEN RESEARChERS AND STATE WIDE PATIENT SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS: A synergistic collaboration between patient safety researchers and a statewide patient safety organization is aimed at identifying effective strategies to move evidence from peer-reviewed literature to the bedside. Practical strategies that facilitate implementation of the bundle will be developed and tested using mixed quantitative and qualitative methods. DISCUSSION: Simply disseminating scientific evidence is often ineffective in changing clinical practice. Therefore, learning how to implement these findings is critically important to promoting high-quality care and a safe health care environment.

Ability to predict team members' behaviors in ICU teams is associated with routine ABCDE implementation.

PURPOSE: Poor coordination may impede delivery of the Awakening, Breathing Coordination, Delirium monitoring/management and Early exercise/mobility (ABCDE) bundle. Developing a shared mental model (SMM), where all team members are on the same page, may support coordination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We administered a survey at the 2016 MHA Keystone Center ICU workshop. We measured different components of SMMs using five items from a validated survey, each on a 5-point Likert scale (strongly agree-strongly disagree). We measured self-reported routine ABCDE implementation using a single item 4-point Likert scale (ABCDE is routine-Made no steps to implement ABCDE). We examined the relationship between SMMs and routine ABCDE implementation using logistic regression, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Among the 206 (75%) responses, 157 (84%) reported using the ABCDE bundle and 80 (51% of 157) reported routine use. When clinicians agreed it was difficult to predict team members' behaviors, the odds of reporting routine ABCDE implementation significantly decreased [0.26 (0.10-0.66)]. Other SMM components related to knowing team members' skills, access to information, team adaptability, and team help behavior, were not significantly associated with the outcome. CONCLUSION: Increasing awareness of team members' behaviors may be a mechanism to improve the implementation of complex care bundles like ABCDE.

Improving patient safety in intensive care units in Michigan.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the design and lessons learned from implementing a large-scale patient safety collaborative and the impact of an intervention on teamwork climate in intensive care units (ICUs) across the state of Michigan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used a collaborative model for improvement involving researchers from the Johns Hopkins University and Michigan Health and Hospital Association. A quality improvement team in each ICU collected and submitted baseline data and implemented quality improvement interventions. Primary outcome measures were improvements in safety culture scores using the Teamwork Climate Scale of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ); 99 ICUs provided baseline SAQ data. Baseline performance for adherence to evidence-based interventions for ventilated patients is also reported. The intervention to improve safety culture was the comprehensive unit-based safety program. The rwg statistic measures the extent to which there is a group consensus. RESULTS: Overall response rate for the baseline SAQ was 72%. Statistical tests confirmed that teamwork climate scores provided a valid measure of teamwork climate consensus among caregivers in an ICU, mean rwg was 0.840 (SD = 0.07). Teamwork climate varied significantly among ICUs at baseline (F98, 5325 = 5.90, P < .001), ranging from 16% to 92% of caregivers in an ICU reporting good teamwork climate. A subset of 72 ICUs repeated the culture assessment in 2005, and a 2-tailed paired samples t test showed that teamwork climate improved from 2004 to 2005, t(71) = -2.921, P < .005. Adherence to using evidence-based interventions ranged from a mean of 25% for maintaining glucose at 110 mg/dL or less to 89% for stress ulcer prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: This study describes the first statewide effort to improve patient safety in ICUs. The use of the comprehensive unit-based safety program was associated with significant improvements in safety culture. This collaborative may serve as a model to implement feasible and methodologically rigorous methods to improve and sustain patient safety on a larger scale.

Reducing Inappropriate Urinary Catheter Use in the Emergency Department: Comparing Two Collaborative Structures.

BACKGROUND Urinary catheters, many of which are placed in the emergency department (ED) setting, are often inappropriate, and they are associated with infectious and noninfectious complications. Although several studies evaluating the effect of interventions have focused on reducing catheter use in the ED setting, the organizational contexts within which these interventions were implemented have not been compared. METHODS A total of 18 hospitals in the Ascension health system (ie, system-based hospitals) and 16 hospitals in the state of Michigan (ie, state-based hospitals led by the Michigan Health and Hospital Association) implemented ED interventions focused on reducing urinary catheter use. Data on urinary catheter placement in the ED, indications for catheter use, and presence of physician order for catheter placement were collected for interventions in both hospital types. Multilevel negative binomial regression was used to compare the system-based versus state-based interventions. RESULTS A total of 13,215 patients (889 with catheters) from the system-based intervention were compared to 12,104 patients (718 with catheters) from the state-based intervention. Statistically significant and sustainable reductions in urinary catheter placement (incidence rate ratio, 0.79; P=.02) and improvements in appropriate use of urinary catheters (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; P=.004) in the ED were observed in the system-based intervention, compared to the state-based intervention. Differences by collaborative structure in changes in presence of physician order for urinary catheter placement (OR, 1.14; P=.60) were not observed. CONCLUSIONS An ED intervention consisting of establishing institutional guidelines for appropriate catheter placement and identifying clinical champions to promote adherence was associated with reducing unnecessary urinary catheter use under a system-based collaborative structure. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:77-84.

Providing feedback following Leadership WalkRounds is associated with better patient safety culture, higher employee engagement and lower burnout.

BACKGROUND: There is a poorly understood relationship between Leadership WalkRounds (WR) and domains such as safety culture, employee engagement, burnout and work-life balance. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey study evaluated associations between receiving feedback about actions taken as a result of WR and healthcare worker assessments of patient safety culture, employee engagement, burnout and work-life balance, across 829 work settings. RESULTS: 16 797 of 23 853 administered surveys were returned (70.4%). 5497 (32.7% of total) reported that they had participated in WR, and 4074 (24.3%) reported that they participated in WR with feedback. Work settings reporting more WR with feedback had substantially higher safety culture domain scores (first vs fourth quartile Cohen's d range: 0.34-0.84; % increase range: 15-27) and significantly higher engagement scores for four of its six domains (first vs fourth quartile Cohen's d range: 0.02-0.76; % increase range: 0.48-0.70). CONCLUSION: This WR study of patient safety and organisational outcomes tested relationships with a comprehensive set of safety culture and engagement metrics in the largest sample of hospitals and respondents to date. Beyond measuring simply whether WRs occur, we examine WR with feedback, as WR being done well. We suggest that when WRs are conducted, acted on, and the results are fed back to those involved, the work setting is a better place to deliver and receive care as assessed across a broad range of metrics, including teamwork, safety, leadership, growth opportunities, participation in decision-making and the emotional exhaustion component of burnout. Whether WR with feedback is a manifestation of better norms, or a cause of these norms, is unknown, but the link is demonstrably potent.

ICU team composition and its association with ABCDE implementation in a quality collaborative.

PURPOSE: Awakening, Breathing Coordination, Delirium, and Early Mobility bundle (ABCDE) should involve an interprofessional team, yet no studies describe what team composition supports implementation. MATERIALS & METHODS: We administered a survey at MHA Keystone Center ICU 2015 workshop. We measured team composition by the frequency of nurse, respiratory therapist, physician, physical therapist, nurse practitioner/physician assistant or nursing assistant involvement in 1) spontaneous awakening trials (SATs), 2) spontaneous breathing trials, 3) delirium and 4) early mobility. We assessed ABCDE implementation using a 5-point Likert ("routine part of every patient's care" - "no plans to implement"). We used ordinal logistic regression to examine team composition and ABCDE implementation, adjusting for confounders and clustering. RESULTS: From 293 surveys (75% response rate), we found that frequent nurse [OR 6.1 (1.1-34.9)] and physician involvement [OR 4.2 (1.3-13.4)] in SATs, nurse [OR 4.7 (1.6-13.4)] and nursing assistant's involvement [OR 3.9 (1.2-13.5)] in delirium and nurse [OR 2.8 (1.2-6.7)], physician [OR (3.6 (1.2-10.3)], and nursing assistants' involvement [OR 2.3 (1.1-4.8)] in early mobility were significantly associated with higher odds of routine ABCDE implementation. CONCLUSIONS: ABCDE implementation was associated with frequent involvement of team members, suggesting a need for role articulation and coordination.

Evaluation of the association between Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS) measures and catheter-associated infections: results of two national collaboratives.

BACKGROUND: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has funded national collaboratives using the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to reduce rates of two catheter-associated infections-central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), using evidence-based intervention bundles to improve technical aspects of care and socioadaptive approaches to foster a culture of safety. OBJECTIVE: Examine the association between hospital units' results for the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS) and catheter-associated infection rates. METHODS: We analysed data from two prospective cohort studies from acute-care intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICUs participating in the AHRQ CLABSI and CAUTI collaboratives. National Healthcare Safety Network catheter-associated infections per 1000 catheter-days were collected at baseline and quarterly postimplementation. The HSOPS was collected at baseline and again 1 year later. Infection rates were modelled using multilevel negative binomial models as a function of HSOPS components over time, adjusted for hospital-level characteristics. RESULTS: 1821 units from 1079 hospitals (CLABSI) and 1576 units from 949 hospitals (CAUTI) were included. Among responding units, infection rates declined over the project periods (by 47% for CLABSI, by 23% for CAUTI, unadjusted). No significant associations were found between CLABSI or CAUTI rates and HSOPS measures at baseline or over time. CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between results of the HSOPS and catheter-associated infection rates when measured at baseline and postintervention in two successful large national collaboratives focused on prevention of CLABSI and CAUTI. These results suggest that it may be possible to improve CLABSI and CAUTI rates without making significant changes in safety culture, particularly as measured by instruments like HSOPS.

Sustaining Reductions in Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Michigan Intensive Care Units: A 10-Year Analysis.

This article describes the interventions that sustained low central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates in the Michigan Keystone ICU Project. This analysis included data from March 2004 to December 2013 for 121 intensive care units (ICUs) in 73 hospitals. The Keystone Project was a cohort collaborative with an improvement team in each ICU. During the sustainability period, teams integrated the intervention into staff orientation, collected and submitted monthly data, and reported infection rates to leaders. The annual mean rate of BSIs dropped from 2.5 infections/1000 catheter-days in 2004 to 0.76 in 2013. A subset analysis found nearly double the percentage of ICUs with a mean rate of <1 infection/1000 catheter-days in 2013 compared with baseline. Active involvement of hospital leaders and the Keystone Center as well as ongoing monitoring and feedback of performance were important in sustaining results. These findings suggest that large-scale improvement projects can be sustained, establishing a new normal for care.

ABCDE, but in that order? A cross-sectional survey of Michigan intensive care unit sedation, delirium, and early mobility practices.

RATIONALE: A bundled approach to intensive care unit (ICU) care known as "Awakening and Breathing Coordination, Delirium monitoring/management, and Early exercise/mobility" (ABCDE) has been proposed, with evidence supporting individual interventions as well as the bundle as a whole. Few data exist on the bundle's implementation and efficacy in community practice. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate self-reported rates of implementation of ABCDE components and their association with outcomes in a state-wide quality improvement collaborative. METHODS: A written survey was administered to representatives attending the 2012 annual meeting of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association's Keystone ICU collaborative. Respondents reported on their practices regarding spontaneous awakening trials, delirium assessments, and early mobility. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were 212 respondents, a 76% response rate. Wide variation in focus was noted across the assessed components of ABCDE. Only 12% reported having implemented routine spontaneous awakening trials and delirium assessments as well as early mobility, 36% reported not having early mobility as an active goal in their units (nonmovers), and 52% reported attempts at early mobility without both routine sedation interruption and delirium screening implementation. In adjusted models, those who implemented exercise with sedation interruption and delirium screening were 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.4-8.6) times more likely to achieve higher levels of exercise in ventilated patients than those who implemented exercise without both sedation interruption and delirium screening. CONCLUSIONS: There is incomplete penetrance of aspects of ABCDE across ICUs in this highly motivated statewide quality improvement collaborative. Yet, implementation of exercise in the context of both sedation interruption and delirium screening was associated with improved self-reported mobility outcomes. Effective knowledge translation and implementation strategies may offer substantial benefits to ICU patients.

Issues of survivorship are rarely addressed during intensive care unit stays. Baseline results from a statewide quality improvement collaborative.

UNLABELLED: RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE: In the context of increasing survivorship from critical illness, many studies have documented persistent sequelae among survivors. However, few evidence-based therapies exist for these problems. Support groups have proven efficacy in other populations, but little is known about their use after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Therefore, we surveyed critical care practitioners regarding their hospital's practice regarding discussing post-ICU problems for survivors with patients and their loved ones, communicating with primary care physicians, and providing support groups for current or former patients and families. METHODS: A written survey was administered to 263 representatives of 73 hospitals attending the January 2013 annual meeting of the Michigan Health and Hospitals Association Keystone ICU initiative, a quality improvement collaborative focused on enhancing outcomes across Michigan ICUs. RESULTS: There were 174 completed surveys, a 66% response rate. Representatives included staff nurses, nursing leadership, physicians, hospital administrators, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists. Sixty-nine percent of respondents identified at least one issue facing ICU survivors after discharge. The concerns most commonly identified by these ICU practitioners were weakness, psychiatric pathologies, cognitive dysfunction, and transitions of care. However, most respondents did not routinely discuss post-ICU problems with patients and families, and only 20% had a mechanism to formally communicate discharge information to primary care providers. Five percent reported having or being in the process of creating a support group for ICU survivors after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Despite growing awareness of the problems faced by ICU survivors, in this statewide quality improvement collaborative, hospital-based support groups are rarely available, and deficiencies in transitions of care exist. Practice innovations and formal research are needed to provide ways to translate awareness of the problems of survivorship into improved outcomes for patients.