Targeted Assessment for Prevention: A Statewide Collaborative

Abstract

Background: Infection preventionists (IPs) are the backbone of the quality and safety matrix of their organizations. Tools to help locate potential gaps can provide unique viewpoints from frontline staff. The CDC provides a Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) strategy that identifies vulnerabilities in the prevention of healthcare-associated infection (HAIs). Methods: A statewide quality improvement organization, partnering with the CDC TAP team, administered TAP facility assessments for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), central-line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), and Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) to a collaborative of 15 acute-care and 2 long-term acute hospitals. More than 800 respondents filled out surveys based on their individualized perceptions of infection prevention practices. Results: The survey results yielded the following lagging indicators: lack of awareness of nursing and physician champions, need for competency-based training of clinical equipment, and feedback on device utilization. At the hospital system level, one improvement team focused on CDI, uncovered leading and lagging areas in general infrastructure, antibiotic stewardship, early detection and appropriate testing, contact precautions, and environmental cleaning. To culminate the TAP collaborative, the cohort of organizations, supported by interdisciplinary teams, participated in a full-day TAP workshop in which they reviewed detailed analyses of their HAI data and assessment results, shared best practices for infection prevention and planned for specific improvement projects using the plan-do-study-act model. Conclusions: Results of a statewide analysis of HAI prevention data and opportunities at a local level were reviewed. The TAP strategy can be used to target opportunities for improvement, to assess gaps in practice, and to develop and implement interventions for improving outcomes. Healthcare facilities and quality improvement organizations can drive infection prevention actions.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None