Effective surgical infection prevention requires redesigning systems to reduce risk factors and to optimize evidence-based processes of care. The fundamental rule of improvement is this: every system is perfectly designed to achieve exactly the results it gets.
In order to attain a new level of performance in patient safety, there must be a new system. This applies to all forms of performance — such as selection, timing, and duration of antimicrobial prophylaxis; thermoregulation; oxygen tension; glucose control; hair removal technique and other basic prevention strategies.
Many health care organizations have succeeded in creating new and safer systems. Major opportunities still exist to reduce the incidence of surgical infections, create safer care for patients requiring surgery, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.
Click here for more information and general tips on Forming the Team, Establishing Measures, Setting Aims, or Testing Changes.
