St. John's Mercy Medical Center of St. Louis Named Winner of 3M Innovation Award Contest

With a video depicting an infection prevention "biathlon," St. Johns Mercy Medical Center of St. Louis received more than 10,100 votes and was named the winner of the 3M "Innovation Award." The contest invited healthcare facilities across the country to showcase original ways of improving patient care and helping to reduce the risk for healthcare-associated infections through video or written submissions. As the winner, St. Johns Mercy Medical Center will be awarded a $5,000 educational grant from 3M to continue their innovative initiative, as well as an expense-paid trip to 3M to meet with the Infection Prevention Division and participate in educational opportunities with 3Ms infection prevention experts.

The company also awarded $1,000 grants to five runners up, including:

- Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, San Luis Obispo, Calif. (9,651 votes)

- Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, Del. (6,106 votes)

- Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, Philadelphia, Pa., (2,828 votes)

- Pella Regional Health Center, Pella, Iowa (2,234 votes)

- Harrington Hospital, Southbridge, Mass. (2,081 votes)

"As International Infection Prevention Week kicks off this month, we pay tribute to the critical role infection prevention professionals play in delivering exceptional and safe patient care. These organizations demonstrated that collaboration, innovative ideas and dedication to putting safety first can make a difference," says Debra Rectenwald, president and general manager of 3Ms Infection Prevention Division. "We congratulate St. Johns Mercy Medical Center for showing its creative and educational approach to fighting healthcare-associated infections and look forward to sharing ideas with them during their visit to 3M that may benefit hospitals across the country."

Fourteen finalists met all eligibility requirements and participated in public voting to determine the winner and runners up. More than 36,000 votes were cast throughout the two week voting period. The St. Johns Mercy Medical Center submission along with the others runners up, can be viewed at www.3mhaicontest.com.

Healthcare-associated infections are among the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S., responsible for approximately 100,000 deaths a year more than mortality from AIDS, breast cancer and auto accidents combined.(1) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDD) estimates overall annual direct medical costs of HAIs to U.S. hospitals range from $28.4 billion to $45 billion. The benefits of prevention range from a low of $5.7 billion (20 percent of infections preventable) to a high of $31.5 billion (70 percent of infections preventable).(2)  

References:

1 www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/healthDis.html. Accessed August 31, 2010

a. www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm#ddaids. Accessed August 31, 2010

b. www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2005BrF.pdf. Accessed August 31, 2010

c. www.car-accidents.com/pages/fatal-accident-statistics.html. Accessed August 31, 2010

2 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/Scott_CostPaper.pdf. Accessed August 31, 2010