The Infection Prevention Program at Licking Memorial Health Systems exists to prevent the occurrence of, or to limit the spread of, healthcare-associated infections in patients, healthcare workers, visitors and others in the healthcare environment. 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 responsibilities 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
The Infection Prevention Committee monitors infections such as:
- Device-associated infection rates that may be benchmarked against rates published by CDC
- Device-associated Infection rates on nursing units that are benchmarked internally only
- The rate of appropriate use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery patients
- The prevalence and the healthcare-associated transmission of antibiotic-resistant organisms – especially MRSA and VRE
- The possible transmission of C. difficile infections
- Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles - published annually by the Pharmacy
- Body fluid exposures and communicable disease exposures among employees
Infection Prevention Office Contact Information
The Infection Preventionist is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Alternate sources are always specified when the Infection Preventionist is unavailable.
- The Infection Preventionist can be reached at (220) 564-4153.
- Voicemail may be left at this number at any time.