Salem rehabilitation facility wins award for reducing hospital infection rates

Salem, Mass. (November 14, 2006) - Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital was recently selected to receive a Quality Achievement Award from the National Association of Long Term Hospitals (NALTH). Shaughnessy won the award for the project submission “Reduction of Nosocomial C-Difficile Infections in the LTAC Setting”.

The project was initiated as a Performance Improvement Initiative by Shaughnessy’s Infection Control Committee in 2004. An interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, physican and occupational therapists, Infection Control Specialists, Certified Nursing Assistants and Environmental Services personnel developed and implemented recommendations which significantly reduced infection rates at the hospital. Initiatives included new C-Difficile diagnostic protocols, enhanced clinical communication systems, dedicated equipment for C-Difficile patients and new patient room cleaning protocols.

The project resulted in improved patient safety as C-Difficile infection rates decreased in 2005 and remained low in 2006. The financial savings was estimated at over $190,000 for the year due to an increase in available patient beds and a shortened length of stay. “This project was successful because of the commitment of the team members to improve patient outcomes at Shaughnessy,” said Joanne Fucile, Vice President of Patient Care, SKRH. “The project team worked together on careful analysis and implementing insightful recommendations to decrease C-Diff in our hospitalized patients.”

Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital is a 160-bed long-term acute care hospital in Salem serving the citizens of the North Shore and eastern Massachusetts. Shaughnessy also has 6 outpatient rehabilitation clinics that provide comprehensive rehabilitative services in the areas of physical therapy, occupational therapy and swallowing and speech therapy.

Shaughnessy was presented the quality award at the annual NALTH meeting in San Antonio in October 2006