On April 17, 2024, our Akron Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU) celebrated more than a year without a central-line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), reflecting the rigorous infection control practices of our NICU nurses.
Akron Children’s is celebrating two significant milestones that demonstrate our pursuit of zero harm and our ongoing commitment to patient safety – especially for our most critically ill patients.
On April 17, 2024, our Akron Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU) celebrated more than a year without a central-line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), reflecting the rigorous infection control practices of our NICU nurses.
The Akron Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) also marked a one-year anniversary in April – the longest stretch in nearly a decade with zero unplanned extubations, signifying the team’s commitment to proper tube placement, management and sedation practices.
“CLABSIs and unplanned extubations are serious complications that can significantly impact a child’s recovery,” said Dr. Wendy Van Ittersum, medical director, patient and staff safety and quality services. “Our goal is to minimize the risk of infections, additional procedures and potential long-term health consequences. This translates to shorter hospital stays, less suffering, and ultimately, a higher chance for our patients to return home healthy.”
Akron Children’s nurses receive comprehensive training on central line care and safe tube management practices including hands-on demonstrations, annual competency reviews and ongoing education to ensure the highest standards are consistently met.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Connie Teal credits the NICU’s CLABSI milestone to excellent nursing care and strict guidelines for handling central lines, treating them as sterile procedures.
“Our nurses receive comprehensive training on central line care and safe tube management practices,” she said. “This includes hands-on demonstrations, annual competency reviews and ongoing education to ensure the highest standards are consistently met.”
To prevent unplanned extubations, the PICU team developed a sedation management protocol to minimize patient agitation during tube manipulation, reducing the risk of accidental dislodgement.
Bonnie Powell, quality initiative specialist, said the PICU’s achievement is the result of a lot of education and hard work.
“You don’t reach 365 days by accident,” she said. “It takes every discipline at the bedside and every person who touches an intubated patient to achieve this.
To prevent unplanned extubations, the PICU team developed a sedation management protocol to minimize patient agitation during tube manipulation, reducing the risk of accidental dislodgement.
“We have fostered a culture where preventing harm is a top priority,” she added. “We track and analyze events, conduct real-time reviews and implement evidence-based practices to continuously improve our processes and enhance patient safety.”
As part of a nationwide children’s health collaborative comprising over 140 children’s hospitals called Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS), Akron Children’s works cooperatively on improvement work, like unplanned extubations and CLABSI.
“By sharing knowledge with our peers in children’s hospitals nationwide, we have cultivated an environment where safety comes first,” said Dr. Van Ittersum.
For parents entrusting their child’s care to Akron Children’s, these achievements offer peace of mind. They demonstrate our unwavering commitment to preventing complications and ensuring the swiftest possible recovery for each patient.
“One of the hospital’s founding promises is to treat each child as your own, and we would never want our own children to be harmed in the place we take them to get well,” said Bonnie. “Our continued work to reduce these events shows how committed we are to this promise.”
Dr. Van Ittersum stressed these milestones aren’t the end of the journey.
“We are committed to continuous quality improvement, constantly evaluating our processes and seeking new ways to further enhance patient safety,” she said. “We extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible staff for their unwavering dedication to providing exceptional care. Their expertise, vigilance and compassion are what make these achievements possible.”
To learn more about Akron Children’s commitment to patient safety and exceptional pediatric care, visit https://www.akronchildrens.org/quality/Quality-and-Patient-Safety.html.
