Implementation Science and Research
Concurrent Education Session - 60 minutes
Kristen Kelley, Kristen Kelley, MPH, RN, BSN, CIC, CLC, FAPIC
Director, Infection Prevention
Indiana University Health
Indianapolis, Indiana
Nothing to disclose
Lana Dbeibo, MD
Medical Director Infection Prevention
Indiana University Health
Indianapolis, Indiana
Nothing to disclose
Susan Ruwe, MSN, RN, CPHQ, CIC
Senior Infection Preventionist
Carle Foundation Hospital
Argenta, Illinois
Nothing to disclose
An urban academic health center (AHC) used Agile Implementation (AI) to reduce the incidence of harm events and other adverse outcomes, such as CLABSI, CAUTI, C. diff, and SSIs, while simultaneously creating a culture of continuous learning within the health system.
This AHC used the Agile Implementation (AI) model to identify, implement, and sustain an evidence-based solution to reduce harm events. The AI model involves several steps:
1. Identify potential opportunities and verify that leadership is willing to allocate time and resources to address the opportunity, and that the stakeholders are engaged in solving the problem.
2. Identify the best available evidence-based healthcare solutions using published studies and topic guidelines or recommendations
3. Develop the evaluation strategy including appropriate measures and milestones, plus criteria for halting the intervention if unsuccessful and details how that is done and by whom.
4. Assemble an interdisciplinary team to test, evaluate, and then fully implement the solution.
The AHC experienced impressive results, including a 68% reduction in harm events over a 4-year period while also gaining a deeper understanding of the healthcare delivery system.