Medline Funds Grants Aimed at Reducing Risks Associated With Hospital-Acquired Conditions

Medline Industries, Inc. announces today that it is funding 10 new research projects in its second round of Prevention Above All Discoveries Grants focused on reducing the medical risks and harms associated with hospital-acquired conditions. To date the program has provided more than $1.1 million in funding to front-line healthcare workers researching evidence-based solutions.

An independent review panel selected six studies aimed at developing and testing the feasibility of new solutions and four others for empirical study funding to test the costs, effectiveness and dissemination of evidence-based solutions.

"These research projects are great ideas that could help in the fight against some of the toughest hospital-acquired conditions," says Andrew Kramer, MD, head of the Department of Medicine's Health Care Policy and Research Division at the University of Colorado and grant review committee chair. "What's unique about this funding is that it is all going to providers who are on the front lines of healthcare. The feedback this group gives us is critical to advancing healthcare technology."

Prevention Above All grant awards are designed to assist healthcare providers in developing and testing creative solutions or interventions for reducing or preventing hospital-acquired harms. Pilot grants receive funding up to $25,000 each and empirical study grants up to $100,000 each. Grant recipients are paired with a research mentor/consultant to develop methods and guide the conduct of the study, ensuring that a rigorous research process is followed.

The newly awarded Prevention Above All grants recipients are as follows:

Pilot Grants

Title: Heel Pressure Ulcers for Critical Care Patients

Institution: Ellis Hospital -- Schenectady, NY

Principal Investigator: Linda D. Young, RN, BSN

Title: Central Venous Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections in Pediatric Oncology Patients

Institution: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, CA -- Los Angeles, CA

Principal Investigator: Rita Secola, RN, MSN, CPON

Title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Wait and See Prescription Program (WASPP) to Reduce Antibiotic Use in ED Abscess Treatment

Institution: Carilion Clinic -- Roanoke, VA

Principal Investigator: Melanie K. Prusakowski, MD

Title: Pressure Ulcer and Skin Breakdown of Patients and Musculoskeletal Disorders, Predominately Back and Shoulder Injuries Involving Direct Care Providers Related to Repositioning Patients

Institution: Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital -- Tucson, AZ

Principal Investigator: Lavina Taylor, RN

Title: Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections

Institution: Sutter Roseville Medical Center -- Roseville, CA

Principal Investigator: Frances Patmon, RN, BA, BSN

Title: The Prevention of Wrong-Site Procedures With the Use of Bedside Procedural Supply Kits

Institution: Northwestern Memorial Hospital -- Chicago, IL

Principal Investigator: Helga Brake, PharmD, CPHQ

Empirical Grants

Title: Implementation of Standardized Oral Care Protocol to Improve Oral Hygiene Among Inpatients

Institution: The Ohio State University Medical Center -- Columbus, OH

Principal Investigator: Esther Chipps, RN, PhD

Title: Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections Among Residents of LTC Environments

Institution: University of Toledo Medical Center -- Toledo, OH

Principal Investigators: Dr. P. Gaspar, PhD, RN & Dr. M. Gokula, MD, CMD

Title: Peri-Operative Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Tool

Institution: The University of Maryland Medical System Foundation for the University of Maryland Medical Center -- Baltimore, MD

Principal Investigator: Kristin L. Seidl, PhD, RN

Title: Use of Skin Protectant Barrier to Reduce Skin Compromise and Minimize Infection Risk at Central Line Sites

Institution: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center -- Cincinnati, OH

Principal Investigator: Marty O. Visscher, PhD