Kimberly-Clark Health Care today announced the recipients of the fourth annual HAI WATCHDOG Awards, recognizing the efforts of dedicated healthcare facilities for their work to reduce and prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) through staff and patient education and use of best practices among clinicians.   

“Healthcare-associated infections continue to be an overwhelming concern for healthcare facilities around the world, affecting hundreds of millions of patients each year,” says Joanne Bauer, president of Kimberly-Clark Health Care. “At Kimberly-Clark Health Care, we believe that recognizing the outstanding and thoughtful efforts facilities take to prevent these deadly infections is another step closer towards building a safer overall healthcare environment. This year, we are excited to commend the HAI prevention initiatives of two healthcare facilities who are working hard to protect their staff and patients from infection. We hope their leadership empowers other healthcare facilities to do the same.” 

This year, the Clinician’s Choice Award category recognizes HAI prevention initiatives that help educate and build awareness without directly tracking HAI rates. The winners were selected via online public voting and were both awarded with an educational grant.

HAI WATCHDOG Awards Recipients – Clinician’s Choice

First Place 

Martha Jefferson Hospital- a member of Sentara Healthcare, Charlottesville, Va. – Martha Jefferson Hospital set out to reduce the risk of catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and drive nursing ownership and awareness of CAUTI prevention strategies. The hospital developed a team of representatives from various nursing units to evaluate catheter usage on a weekly basis and identify issues contributing to the development of the infections. Based on their findings, an educational program was developed for clinical staff, electronic documentation was adopted to drive evidence-based practice, and a catheter bundle was designed to guide nursing practices. As a result, the hospital’s catheter device days were reduced by 40 percent from 2012 to 2013, the use of securement devices increased to 100 percent, documented indications for indwelling catheters increased to 100 percent, and reduction in dependent loops in catheter tubing increased by 75 percent. 

Honorable Mention

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, La. – At Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) were increasing, especially those associated with peripheral intravenous central catheters (PICC). The hospital initiated a project to reduce the central and PICC line infections. The infection control and safety teams at the hospital implemented education programs for staff and provided hands on demonstrations of catheter care. In addition, an analysis tool was implemented to document and review CLABSIs. As a result, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center saw a nearly 25 percent reduction in PICC line infections from 2012 to 2013. 

The HAI WATCHDOG Awards for India and Australia/New Zealand will accept submissions until September 30, 2014. Winners of the U.K., India and Australia/New Zealand HAI WATCHDOG Awards will be announced later this year. 

The HAI WATCHDOG Community is an online forum for sharing infection prevention best practices. Healthcare professionals can join the HAI WATCHDOG Community to not only share experiences, but gather insight into other successful infection prevention programs around the country. In addition, clinicians have access to tools and resources, such as customizable posters, to educate and reinforce the importance of HAI prevention with staff.