Olney, MD – March 31, 2014 — A new report from the Maryland Hospital Association illustrates how the state’s hospitals are working together to improve safety. The report, Quality Matters, is the first compilation of the results of the longstanding, statewide efforts of Maryland’s 66 hospitals to improve the quality of care. It features several programs in which MedStar Montgomery is participating.

Among the findings are that those hospitals have:

• Achieved an 87 percent compliance rate for hand hygiene in 2013
• Reduced by more than half the number of central line-associated bloodstream infections
• Reduced by 14 percent the number of mechanical breathing device complications
• Ranked among the top five nationally for the pace of readmissions reduction
• Achieved a 0.5 percent rate for early elective deliveries, among the nation’s lowest
• Reduced the number of falls with injury to one every 2,000 patient days
• Maintained zero catheter-associated urinary tract infections among 80 percent of participating hospital units
• Maintained zero colon surgical site infections among two-thirds of participating hospitals

Specific to MedStar Montgomery, for the past two years, there has been zero central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). While the overall results state that mechanical breathing device complications have been reduced by 14 percent, at MedStar Montgomery, there has been zero ventilator associated pneumonia in the past three years.

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center participates in the following programs:

• Maryland Hand Hygiene Collaborative
• MHA’s Surgical Unit-based Safety Program (SUSP) to Reduce Surgical Site Infections (SSI)
• Former participants On the CUSP: Stop BSI (Collaborative has ended)
• Former participants in On the CUSP: Stop CAUTI (Collaborative has ended)
• Former participants in IHI’s Project Joints

“Quality and safety have always been paramount at Maryland’s hospitals,” said Carmela Coyle, President & CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association. “This report showcases the good work that has already been accomplished and helps guide us on a path toward future improvements. We look forward to making this an annual report so the communities we serve can join us on that path.”

“Evidence shows that hand hygiene is the number one way to prevent healthcare associated infections, so we knew where we had to place our emphasis. We have made significant improvement in our hand hygiene compliance. This was achieved by several means but the most important one was that our senior leaders made hand hygiene a priority and expectation for everyone,” Judy Moy, RN, CIC.

Maryland’s hospitals rely on several partners in their efforts to improve quality: the Maryland Hospital Association, the Maryland Patient Safety Center, the Maryland Healthcare Education Institute, the Delmarva Foundation, and others.

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center is 138 bed not-for-profit hospital serving the greater Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas. As a proud member of MedStar Health, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center is committed to delivering the latest in modern medicine and medical technology. For more information about the hospital, contact Gina Cook, marketing and communications manager at 301-774-8774 or [email protected]

Contact Information

Gina Cook
Marketing & Communications Manager
[email protected]
Phone: 301-774-8774