- Email: [email protected]
Welcome from the Guest Editor
G U E S T
J. Hudson Garrett Jr,
E D I T O R ’ S
M E S S A G E
PhD, MSN, MPH, FNP-BC, CSRN, PLNC, VA-BCÔ, IP-BC, MSL-BC, CDONA, FACDONA
Welcome from the Guest Editor
I
n this special issue we focus on several of the core practices for infection prevention and control related to vascular access care. The publication of evidence-based practices and clinical research is critical to advancing the profession of vascular access and achieving the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Triple Aim of improving population health, reducing the cost of care delivery, and improving the patient experience. Most hospitalized patients receive some form of vascular access therapy, and with care always comes risk for health care-associated infections (HAIs). Most HAIs stem from 3 common sources of contamination: contaminated hands of health care providers and patients, a contaminated clinical environment of care (eg, medical devices and environmental surfaces), and contamination from a patient’s own flora present on their skin (which invades the insertion site due to puncture or surgical incision). The good news is that most HAIs can be prevented through the careful and judicious application of evidence-based practices available from clinical leaders such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC, through the guidance provided by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, has created evidence-based guidelines to guide our clinical practices as vascular access experts. Finally, quality improvement data points such as central line-associated bloodstream infections are monitored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services using the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance platform. Quality is
70
j
JAVA
j
Vol 21 No 2
j
directly correlated with improved outcomes and reduced costs of care delivery. Infection prevention and control transcends clinical settings and directly affects patients and health care professionals. The responsibility for infection prevention and control resides with every health care professional and also with patients. Recent examples of emergent, novel viruses such as Ebola virus disease, Zika virus, and measles demonstrate the need for continuous readiness for infection prevention. Vascular access experts must be continuously ready for the next pathogen of concern and remain vigilant about infection control practices such as hand hygiene and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment. Please consider submitting your research, evidence-based practice, or another article for publication consideration. It is only through sharing evidence-based practices at the grassroots level that we can improve the quality of care provided and reduce the incidence of deadly HAIs.
2016
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.java.2016.03.005 Copyright © 2016, ASSOCIATION FOR VASCULAR ACCESS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
J. Hudson Garrett Jr,
E D I T O R ’ S
M E S S A G E
PhD, MSN, MPH, FNP-BC, CSRN, PLNC, VA-BCÔ, IP-BC, MSL-BC, CDONA, FACDONA
Welcome from the Guest Editor
I
n this special issue we focus on several of the core practices for infection prevention and control related to vascular access care. The publication of evidence-based practices and clinical research is critical to advancing the profession of vascular access and achieving the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Triple Aim of improving population health, reducing the cost of care delivery, and improving the patient experience. Most hospitalized patients receive some form of vascular access therapy, and with care always comes risk for health care-associated infections (HAIs). Most HAIs stem from 3 common sources of contamination: contaminated hands of health care providers and patients, a contaminated clinical environment of care (eg, medical devices and environmental surfaces), and contamination from a patient’s own flora present on their skin (which invades the insertion site due to puncture or surgical incision). The good news is that most HAIs can be prevented through the careful and judicious application of evidence-based practices available from clinical leaders such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC, through the guidance provided by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, has created evidence-based guidelines to guide our clinical practices as vascular access experts. Finally, quality improvement data points such as central line-associated bloodstream infections are monitored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services using the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance platform. Quality is
70
j
JAVA
j
Vol 21 No 2
j
directly correlated with improved outcomes and reduced costs of care delivery. Infection prevention and control transcends clinical settings and directly affects patients and health care professionals. The responsibility for infection prevention and control resides with every health care professional and also with patients. Recent examples of emergent, novel viruses such as Ebola virus disease, Zika virus, and measles demonstrate the need for continuous readiness for infection prevention. Vascular access experts must be continuously ready for the next pathogen of concern and remain vigilant about infection control practices such as hand hygiene and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment. Please consider submitting your research, evidence-based practice, or another article for publication consideration. It is only through sharing evidence-based practices at the grassroots level that we can improve the quality of care provided and reduce the incidence of deadly HAIs.
2016
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.java.2016.03.005 Copyright © 2016, ASSOCIATION FOR VASCULAR ACCESS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.