From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) - Key skills may be lacking among many nurses who treat patients with urinary catheters, according to a recent AHRQ-funded study. The researchers found that recommended procedures to test for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), a common hospital-associated infection, are not followed in many cases. Collecting specimens for urine culture is a key part of testing for CAUTI, requiring proper procedures for arriving at accurate results and keeping patients safe. Of 394 nurses studied, 76 percent reported receiving education on CAUTI risk reduction within the last 12 months. Almost half of the nurses did not believe that their peers comply with urine sample collection standards. This research indicates the importance of addressing both nursing competencies for obtaining urine cultures and nurses’ knowledge as to when the culture is indicated. The researchers concluded that nurses are not commonly evaluated on the skills of placing and maintaining...

Kentucky Hospital Association is pleased to partner with other infection prevention stakeholders in offering the fourth Statewide Infection Prevention Boot Camp on March 8 and 9 in Lexington. The sessions are designed for both experienced IPs and those new to the field. All hospital IP professionals should plan to attend as topics will include emerging pathogens, outbreaks and compliance with newly implemented regulations.

On March 9 and 10, KHA is hosting its Annual Quality and Hospital Engagement Network Conference. All hospital chief nursing officers and quality leaders are encouraged to attend. Education will center on patient safety culture, physician accountability, information technology and building successful improvement systems. There is no cost for the Quality Conference as HEN funds are supporting the event.

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The 2016 Infection Prevention Boot Camp, developed through a statewide collaborative aimed at supporting Kentucky infection prevention professionals in their daily work to reduce health care associated infections and provide quality patient care, will be held March 8-9 in Lexington. The two-day conference builds on foundational skills provided in previous educational offerings and explores topics with emerging importance.

A brochure is available at http://www.kyha.com/docs/EventBrochures/IPBootCamp2016.pdf.

To register for this or any other upcoming KHA events, click on "Events" at www.kyha.com and choose the event you plan to attend.

This training, on Wednesday, November 5, will cover general awareness, safety, security and function specific regulations for shipping infectious substances (Category A and B) and dry ice in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation (49CFR).

Personnel from the Kentucky Division of Laboratory Services will provide the training.  The suggested audience is primarily for hospital personnel who have a role in the packaging and shipping of Category A and B infectious substances and who do not have a current certification.  

If you have any questions, please contact Dick Bartlett at KHA (502-426-6220 or 800-945-4542 or via email at rbartlett@kyha.com). 

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) has been reviewing the state regulation on requirements for health care worker tuberculosis (TB) testing. The Department has circulated language that would require annual TB testing for all hospital employees. KHA has gathered comments and input from hospitals and submitted comments on this issue to KDPH and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

KDPH has requested a meeting with hospital infection preventionists (IPs), employee health nurses and other relevant hospital staff to discuss the concerns hospitals have communicated as well as offer dialogue about the increased incidence of TB and related public health concerns. KDPH and the OIG hope that the discussion will bring about a consensus on the most practical and effective policy to meet everyone's needs.

KHA will host a meeting on July 29 at its headquarters in Louisville from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. (ET). There is room for 30 to attend in person and others may participate via conference...