NUMC’S OUTCOMES “SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN EXPECTED” FOR MINIMIZING SIX TYPES OF INFECTIONS, AS REPORTED BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT AND CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
Victor F. Politi, MD, FACP, FACEP Michael B. Mirotznik, Esq.,
President/CEO Chairman Board of Directors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2015
PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055
NUMC’S OUTCOMES “SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN EXPECTED” FOR MINIMIZING SIX TYPES OF INFECTIONS, AS REPORTED BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT AND CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
East Meadow, NY……As central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) are among the most serious acquired infections, Victor F. Politi, MD, FACP, FACEP, President/CEO of the NuHealth System/Nassau University Medical Center, proudly announced that the U. S. News and World Report indicated that the Nassau University Medical Center’s success in minimizing six types of infections data is “significantly better than expected” as reported in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Consumer Reports in its Health Ratings Center, also commended the Nassau University Medical Center with its highest ratings as one of three large hospitals where a patient is least likely to be infected with MRSA and C. Diff.
“This is terrific news and a testament to our staff’s dedication to patient safety and quality through its initiative to reduce or eliminate central line associated blood stream infections. Performing better than the national average benchmark can be attributed to a great team effort, interdisciplinary communications and a commitment to quality and safety,” stated Dr. Politi. “This data means that NUMC shares honors in the top ratings for much fewer infections than hospitals of similar type and size both in the state and nationally.”
Victor Scarmato, MD, acting medical director for the NuHealth/NUMC, offered his congratulations to the multidisciplinary team responsible for this prestigious data ranking on the U.S. News and World Report website and in Consumer Reports: “NUMC is being recognized as an industry model for reducing infections and for activities that have improved the quality of care delivered and/or reduced or eliminated harmful events to patients.”
NuHealth’s vice president of quality management, Maureen P. Shannon, added: “Our staff deserves recognition for their outstanding efforts in our successful initiative, with our multidisciplinary team charged with development, implementation and monitoring of the initiative to transform the process of care to reduce overall infections.”
Patient safety measures determine how well a hospital prevents infections, medical errors and other complications. It matters because patients have a lower risk of experiencing a medical error at hospitals with high patient safety ratings. The U.S. News and World Report website, which evaluated nearly 5000 hospitals nationwide, is an informational tool established to help consumers compare the quality of care that hospitals provide. It offers a list of participating U.S. hospitals which include demographics (location, hospital type) and quality of care measures. Consumers can utilize this tool to help make informed decisions about where to receive their health care. CLABSI are among the most serious hospital acquired infections. When not inserted correctly or kept clean, central lines can become an easy way for germs to enter the body and cause serious infections in the blood stream. To eliminate these infections, NUMC’s team improved its procedures for inserting and maintaining central lines and monitoring risks. With the development of a CLABSI initiative consisting of tracking tools to provide better accountability at the bedside during insertion, maintenance and surveillance of the line, NUMC enhanced its communication between nurses and physicians.
ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.
For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.