Iowa Health - Des Moines has been awarded the the Iowa Health - Des Moinescare Collaborative award for Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) for the  Prevention of Hospital Associated Infections.

Iowa Health - Des Moines has reduced infections across the system by working together on numerous process improvement (PI) teams to improve care at the bedside. These teams of multidisciplinary healthcare workers have helped to improve their culture and communication among medical, nursing and ancillary staff.

In 2008 and prior years, Iowa Health - Des Moines's hand hygiene rate was 60 percent. Although better than the national average of 40 percent, this was not acceptable. A PI team was convened with a goal of 90 percent or better hand hygiene. This team consisted of front-line workers from all areas, including environmental services, respiratory care, radiology, clinic staff, physicians, nurses, communications and educators.

The team developed a campaign, Just One Touch-Every Patient, Every Time. Numerous activities were completed, including revising the hand hygiene data feedback loop. A hand hygiene pledge was signed by every employee. We met our goal of 90 percent in September 2008 and have maintained that level ever since.

"The decrease in HAI during that year was remarkable," says Kathie Nessa, executive director of Clinical Quality Improvement. "Improved hand hygiene significantly contributed to this decrease, but the willingness of employees to participate in multidisciplinary teams to address other evidence-based practices was also a major factor."