Patient Safety Indicators

• Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) Rates
• Methicillan-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Rates
• Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Rates
• Hand Hygiene Compliance
• Hospital Standardized Mortality Ratio (HSMR)
• Surgical Site Infection Prevention Rate
• Surgical Safety Checklist Compliance

Clostridium difficile (C difficile) Rates

Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that is commonly found in the bowel. C. difficile infection occurs when other good bacteria are eliminated or reduced in numbers, allowing the c. difficile bacteria to grow and produce a toxin. This can cause diarrhea. C. difficile is one of the most common infections in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Ontario hospitals report C. difficile rates monthly.

C. difficile Rates at Kemptville District Hospital

Methicillan-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Rates

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium normally found on the skin and nose of healthy people. Sometimes it can cause an infection. It can also develop resistance to antibiotics; it is then called MRSA. MRSA is spread from one person to another by contact, usually on the hands of caregivers. Ontario hospitals report MRSA rates at the end of every quarter.

MRSA Rates at Kemptville District Hospital

Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Rates

Enterococci are bacteria that live in the intestines of most people and usually do not cause illness. VRE are strains of enterococci that are resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. VRE is spread by contact from person to person, usually on the hands of caregivers. It can survive for weeks in the environment but is easily killed with disinfectants and hand hygiene. Ontario hospitals report VRE rates at the end of every quarter.

VRE Rates at Kemptville District Hospital

Hand Hygiene Compliance

Hand hygiene is the most important and effective infection prevention and control measure to prevent the spread of hospital-acquired infections. At KDH we audit healthcare workers’ compliance with hand hygiene using Public Health Ontario’s program, “Just Clean Your Hands”. Ontario hospitals report hand hygiene compliance annually on April 1^st for the previous year.

Hand Hygiene Compliance at Kemptville District Hospital

Hospital Standardized Mortality Ratio

HSMR is a measure of patient safety that compares a hospital’s mortality rate with a national standard. It has been proven useful in identifying areas that can be changed to improve patient safety and the quality of care. HSMR is a ratio of “observed” to “expected” deaths, multiplied by 100. A ratio greater than 100 means more deaths occurred than expected, while a ratio less than 100 suggests fewer deaths occurred than expected. Note that HSMR is adjusted for factors affecting mortality (e.g., age, sex, length of stay) and is based on diagnosis groups that account for 80% of deaths.

HSMR at Kemptville District Hospital

To see the full report or for more information, please visit the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) website.

Surgical Site Infection Prevention Rate

A surgical site infection is an infection that occurs at the site of a surgical incision, caused by bacteria getting into the wound. This can occur from a few days after surgery to much later. Antibiotics are given just before some operations (e.g., joint replacements) to reduce the risk of infection. This indicator ensures that this process is being followed at KDH for hip and knee joint replacements. Ontario hospitals report surgical site infection prevention rates at the end of every quarter.

Surgical Site Infection Prevention Rates at Kemptville District Hospital

Surgical Safety Checklist Compliance

The Surgical Safety Checklist is a set of tasks that the Operating Room team completes at three key phases: before the patient is given anesthesia; before skin incision; and before closing the incision. The checklist ensures that the entire surgical team is ready and confident about proceeding, as well as ensuring the surgical process is complete. Ontario hospitals report on surgical safety checklist compliance biannually, in January and July.

Surgical Safety Checklist Compliance at Kemptville District Hospital 2012/2013 Rates