Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Vice President Receives APIC’s Healthcare Administrator Award

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has named Cindy Barnard, PhD, MBA, MSJS, vice president of quality for Northwestern Memorial HealthCare in Chicago, Illinois, the recipient of the Healthcare Administrator Award.

The award, which will be presented at APIC’s 45th Annual Conference, June 13-15, in Minneapolis, recognizes the pivotal role that healthcare leaders play in establishing an organizational culture that enables and supports infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts.

“We are honored to recognize Dr. Barnard with this award,” said 2018 APIC president Janet Haas, PhD, RN, CIC, FSHEA, FAPIC. “Her leadership at Northwestern Memorial HealthCare has ensured the sustainability and success of their robust infection control program. Strong leadership and mentorship is an essential component for a culture of patient safety.”

Through Barnard’s leadership, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare has developed a culture of safe patient care, ensuring quality infection prevention, and healthcare-associated infection reduction is a top priority. Her thoughtful and ongoing reviews of the IPC department have supported efforts for increased staffing and additional resources.

As Northwestern Memorial HealthCare has continued to grow, Barnard has ensured that the IPC program has remained robust and sustainable. Recently, she has advocated and implemented a standardized electronic surveillance system that ensures the growing health system has the technology for timely rounding and documentation.

Her work has helped the infection prevention team reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) by 25 percent, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) by 40 percent, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) transmission by 75 percent.

Source: APIC