2024 Leadership in Quality Awards submissions were featured in a Virtual Storyboard Showcase during the Summit on Quality Awards on August 8th in Wichita. Winners in each category were announced during the Leadership in Quality Awards Luncheon following the Virtual Storyboard Showcase.
Leadership in Quality Award Winner
(Hospitals with greater than 25 beds, Academic Hospitals or Teaching institutions, Large Hospitals, Residency Programs, FQHCs, Clinics with 15 or more providers.)
NMC Health, Newton
Interdisciplinary Approach to Reducing HAI CDI
A multi-year process improvement project to reduce Clostridioides difficile Infections (CDI) was conducted at NMC Health. Statistical analysis demonstrated that a decrease in HAI CDI was achieved after initiation of the stool tool. A significant reduction was identified after the addition of two-step testing, daily surveillance and re-education of clinical teams. The current outcome is zero HAI CDI for nine months consistently.
Small or Rural Leadership in Quality Award Winner
(CAH Hospitals, Hospitals with 25 or fewer beds, RHCs, Small practices with fewer than 15 providers)
Logan County Health Services, Oakley
Reducing and Preventing Infections through Antimicrobial Stewardship
The Antimicrobial Stewardship (AS) team at Logan County Health Services initiated and expanded a comprehensive AS program to both reduce and prevent infections throughout the facility. At the initiation of the project, only 45% of expected cultures were obtained prior to initiation of antimicrobial therapy. Following nursing and provider education and buy-in, expected cultures have exceeded the goal of 90%.