Dr. Lynne Kelley On The Watch For Healthcare Associated Infections

Dr. Lynne Kelley is a nationally recognized vascular surgeon and Vice President Medical Director for Kimberly-Clark Healthcare. Dr. Kelley is determined to help prevent and reduce Healthcare Associated Infections and she has developed clinical support, education and HIA training. Dr. Kelley remarked: “Kimberly Clark Health Care is committed to partnering with hospitals to help reduce the risks of healthcare associated infections and, where possible, bring new and novel technology to the marketplace.”

HAI Education Bus

Healthcare-associated infections are a global crisis affecting both patients and healthcare workers. Financially, HAIs represent an estimated annual impact of $6.7 billion to healthcare facilities, but the human cost is even higher. A Centers for Disease Control report published in March-April 2007 estimated the number of U.S. deaths from healthcare associated infections in 2002 at 98,987. According to the World Health Organization, “At any given time, 1.4 million people worldwide are estimated to be suffering from an infection acquired in a health facility. The risk of acquiring healthcare-associated infections in developing countries is 2-20 times higher than in developed countries.

Until recently, a lack of HAI reporting requirements for healthcare facilities has contributed to less-than-optimal emphasis being placed on eliminating the sources of healthcare associated infections. However, growing public anxiety regarding the issue and resulting legislation on state and local levels demanding accountability is serving to accelerate initiatives to combat HAIs.

The CDC reports that the following are infectious diseases that may be transmitted and/or acquired in healthcare settings and therefore are possible Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs).

To protect patients by reducing the risk of HAI, healthcare professionals must continually update their knowledge of infection management.

Vitals.com is proud to help spread the awareness to doctors and hospitals nationwide and to encourage Kimberly-Clark to continue to deliver education programs on healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention to hospital staff and management. As simple as education sounds, busy doctors and nurses on the front lines of delivering care can find it difficult to find the time to take advantage of scheduled programs within their hospitals.

The HAI Education Program is part of a national infection awareness campaign for healthcare professionals called “Not on My Watch” and will provide the facility with a toolkit that contains informational flyers, patient safety tips and posters.