Broward Health Coral Springs Medical Center Wins 2011 APIC Film Award

Broward Health Coral Springs Medical Center (CSMC) recently won a top award from APIC for its film about their pioneering efforts to minimize catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs).

The film, "Mission: Zero. Reducing CRBSIs at Broward Health Coral Springs Medical Center," won the Peoples Choice Award at the 2011 annual meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) held in Baltimore in late June. The eight-minute film was conference attendees top pick among nearly 36 entries in the Infection Prevention Film Festival.

"This award is a source of great pride for our entire organization - not just Coral Springs Medical Center but also the Broward Health system," says Drew Grossman, CEO of CSMC. "The story of how we implemented a disinfection cap to address the CRBSI issue delivers an important message about how to minimize these dangerous infections. It demonstrates Broward Healths commitment to delivering the best and safest patient care to the communities we serve."

The film tells the story of how Ava Dobin, BSN/RN/CIC, regional manager of quality/safety at CSMC, went on a mission to reduce CRBSIs. She was supported by Grossman and other top administrators including Kimberley Jutras Graham, MBA/RN/NEA-BC, chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of CSMC.

CSMC decided to trial a new disinfection cap from April to June 2010 after noting the success rates their sister hospital, Broward Health North Broward Medical Center was achieving with the cap. The cap is bright orange and contains a foam pad inside that is saturated with 70 percent rubbing alcohol. The cap is easily twisted off and changed by the nurse after each patient use, disinfecting the valve top within only five seconds - 25 seconds less than manual disinfection.

"CRBSIs are one of the most dangerous infections a patient can get in a hospital," says Dobin. "I am so proud to be associated with a healthcare system that has been recognized as national leader in preventing these infections."

In just three months of utilizing the disinfection cap, CSMC saved an estimated $504,000 by completely eliminating CRBSIs. That success has continued, with infection rates remaining at nearly zero.

"When you make nurses jobs easier, everyone wins because then nurses have more time and energy to devote to other aspects of patient care," said Graham. "It all started with Avas insights and the devotion of our administration to patient safety."

The film can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Q8cqW_m68