Healthcare Associated Infections

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States accounting for nearly two million infections and 100,000 deaths annually.1 Despite their prevalence, these infections are now considered to be largely preventable.

  • More than 80% of all HAI's occurring in the acute care setting are the result of surgical site infections (SSIs), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) usually precipitated through the insertion of an invasive devices.
  • In the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) setting, many of the HAIs are the result of lapses in safe injection practice, sterilization/disinfection, equipment reprocessing, and improper use of glucometers.
  • In long term care facilities (LTCFs), HAIs are frequently the result of skin conditions, respiratory issues, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal issues.

What Can Be Done To Protect Your Patients?

INFECTION PREVENTION BEGINS WITH HERMA

Components of the HERMA HAI Prevention Program

  • Provide resources, education, and tools for HERMA facilities to implement a standardized infection prevention risk management program
  • Document healthcare worker HAI education and environmental best practices
  • Provide risk management consultation and response strategies when issues arise
  • Develop self-reporting protocols with defensible third party auditing for facilities to demonstrate program compliance, validation, and verification which will allow for the purchase of definitive insurance coverage for HAIs and specific infection control risk

Benefits of the HERMA HAI Prevention Program

TO IMPROVE INFECTION PREVENTION PRACTICES IN PARTICIPATING FACILITIES THEREBY PROTECTING PATIENTS, REDUCING POTENTIAL FINANCIAL IMPACT, MITIGATING LIABILITY AND RESULTING IN A HIGHER STANDARD OF CARE.

For Additional Information email info@HERMAResources.org.