Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Reducing Hospital-Acquired C. diff

Harm/hospital-acquired condition reports were sent to each hospital. In reviewing both campuses, each was in the "red" on the scorecard for hospital-acquired C. diff. A CQI+ team was sanctioned to reduce hospital-acquired C. diff by half from a high of 11 cases per month to 5.5 cases per month.

The C. diff CQI+ team utilized innovation, sharing of best practices and Lean/Six Sigma process improvement strategies to focus on decreasing hospital-acquired C. diff. The team was able to change the organization’s culture and reduce the number of hospital-acquired C. diff by more than half and realized a five-fold decrease in hospital-associated C. diff cases.

This case study is part of the Illinois Hospital Association's annual quality awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These hospitals are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim--improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

Award recipients achieve measurable and meaningful progress in providing care that is:

• Safe
• Timely
• Effective
• Efficient
• Equitable
• Patient-centered

(The Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement.)