+ Community
Kathy Adams | Dec 9, 2017

Vanderbilt University Medical Center receives honor for infection-control practices

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has been honored with Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Program of Distinction designation, according to a university press release.

The designation is for stringent standards in infection prevention and control and was given to the center after an intense review process, according to the release. During the review, a team from APIC visited the medical center's Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital as well as other off-site locations to observe practices.

"We are happy to award the first APIC Program of Distinction designation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center," APIC CEO Katrina Crist said in the release. "Their program embodies the standards of excellence that we envisioned when we created this program. We congratulate them on their superior efforts to protect patients and prevent infection."

The APIC team found that the center is committed at all levels to preventing infections, according to the release.

"We're honored to be the first institution in the country to receive this designation," Thomas Talbot, chief hospital epidemiologist at VUMC, said in the release.

In the past eight years, central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in intensive care patients were reduced by 79 percent, according to data in the university's release. During that same time period, there was 81 percent increase in hand hygiene compliance as well.

Organizations in this story

More News