What is the purpose of the Infection Prevention Program?

The Infection Prevention Program at Licking Memorial Health Systems exists to prevent the occurrence of, or to limit the spread of, nosocomial infections in patients, health care workers, visitors and others in the health care environment.

What is the Infection Prevention Program?

The Infection Prevention Committee, as established in the Medical Staff Bylaws, is responsible for the Infection Prevention Program of the Licking Memorial Health Systems.  The goals of the program are:

• The surveillance of potential hospital infections
• The review and analysis of actual infections
• The promotion of preventive and corrective programs designed to minimize infection risks
• The supervision of infection control in all phases of the hospital activities

One full-time employee manages the program with training in Infection Prevention (IP).  The committee meets quarterly to analyze surveillance data, determine actions necessary to achieve goals of the IP Program, approve policies applicable to IP and to receive input from its members about IP concerns.  At least annually the Committee reviews the program to determine effectiveness and to define the Surveillance activities for the next year.

All results of the IP activities are reported at Infection Prevention Committee meetings and at the Medical Executive Committee meeting.  The Infection Prevention Manager or other members of the Infection Prevention Committee report results of activities to the involved departments.

What types of infections does the Infection Prevention Committee monitor?

The current surveillance activities briefly include:

1. Device associated infection rates that may be benchmarked against rates published by CDC.
2. Device associated Infection rates on nursing units that are benchmarked internally only.
3. The rate of appropriate use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery patients.
4. The prevalence and the nosocomial transmission of antibiotic resistant organisms – especially MRSA and VRE.
5. The possible transmission of C. difficile infections.
6. Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles –  published annually by the Microbiology Department.
7. Body fluid exposures and Communicable Disease exposures among employees.

What other functions does Infection Prevention perform?

1. Routine surveillance of patient care areas of LMH to assure compliance with IP policies and periodic surveillance of non-patient care areas.
2. Communicable disease reporting to the Ohio Department of Health (through the local health department) through the Infection Prevention Manager – reports based on results obtained from the Laboratory and communication from staff.
3. Routine review of microbiology reports and admitting diagnoses to recognize clusters of infection or unusual pathogens.
4. Providing all employee health services involving infectious disease.
5. Development and ongoing review/revision of policies/procedures with IP implications – new or revised patient care procedures reviewed as indicated.
6. Evaluating new products that have IP implications by working closely with the Purchasing Department.
7. Providing ongoing education to staff about IP.
8. Instituting appropriate control measures or studies when there is considered to be a danger of infection to a patient or personnel.

What are the times that the Infection Prevention Office may be reached?

The Infection Prevention Director, Jeanne Emmons, is usually available from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday though Friday.  Alternate sources are always specified when the Infection Prevention Director is unavailable.

The phone number for the office is (740) 348-4158.

Voice mail may be left at that number at any time.

Where is Infection Prevention located?

The Infection Prevention Director’s office is located in the Laboratory on the first floor of Licking Memorial Hospital.