Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Reducing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs)

Since 2012, the Aiming for Zero program at Northwell Hospital is continuously working to reduce CAUTIs across the hospital’s 15 locations. By integrating focused guidelines, uniform metrics, best strategies for prevention and dedicated CAUTI teams, the initiative was able to:

• Reduce CAUTIs by 52 percent
• Decrease indwelling catheter days by 20 percent since 2015
• Decrease the risk of acquiring other infections or life-threatening complications
• Reduce antibiotic exposure to patients
• Report only one CAUTI from 2014 to 2015 at the health system’s children hospital

This case study is part of the HANYS Triple Aim series highlighting how New York hospitals are improving health, enhancing quality and reducing costs. Hospitals, nursing homes, and home care agencies across New York state are pursuing the Triple Aim. In spite of fiscal constraints, its members are embracing the challenge of transforming health care and are implementing new and innovative approaches to delivery.