Infection Prevention & Control
This type of healthcare-associated infection is the most common among surgical patients and can occur within 30 days of an operation, or 90 days if prosthetic material is implanted.
What is a surgical site infection (SSI)?
These tools are used to quantify healthcare processes, outcomes, patient experiences, and system performance to evaluate the quality of care.
What are quality measures?
This list of patient safety goals, formerly the National Patient Safety Goals, was recently updated by Joint Commission in January 2026.
What are the National Performance Goals?
This concept refers to understanding and responding to a patient’s emotions and perspective, helping them feel heard, valued, and respected in their care.
What is empathy?
This abbreviation refers to a blood test that evaluates oxygenation, ventilation, and acid–base status using arterial blood.
What is ABG?
A key prevention strategy for this bloodstream infection requires daily reassessment of whether the device is still needed and prompt removal when it is no longer essential.
What is a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)?
This AHRQ-developed set of indicators identifies potentially avoidable safety events in hospitalized patients that signal opportunities for improvement.
What are Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs)?
This person is the Patient Safety Officer at RUMC.
Who is Dr. John Evanko?
This evidence-based technique asks patients to repeat information in their own words to confirm understanding of diagnoses, medications, or discharge instructions.
What is the teach-back method?
What lab results need to be drawn before giving coumadin?
What are CBC, PT, PTT and INR?
This process kills microorganisms on surfaces, but only if physical debris and organic material are removed first.
What is disinfection?
This graphical tool tracks data points over time and helps identify whether changes represent real improvement versus random variation.
What is a run chart?
This type of event is an error or failure in care that is caught before it reaches the patient or causes harm.
What is a near miss?
This collaborative process involves clinicians and patients working together to make healthcare choices based on evidence and the patient’s values, goals, and preferences.
What is shared-decision making?
This abbreviation means "as needed; as necessary."
What is PRN?
The CDC defines this link in the chain of infection as the route through which pathogens enter a susceptible host, often including mucous membranes or non-intact skin.
What is the portal of entry?
This widely used standardized measurement system includes dozens of metrics assessing preventive care, chronic disease management, and overall healthcare performance across health plans.
What is HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set)?
This term refers to an injury caused by medical management, rather than the underlying disease, that may prolong hospitalization or result in disability.
What is an adverse event?
This phase of care is considered a critical moment for patient experience, where clear education and follow-up planning can reduce readmissions and improve patient confidence in self-care.
What is discharge planning?
These BP medications work on the kidneys to block the Angiotensin I from converting to the active vasopressor Angiotensin II which further causes more hypertension.
What are ACE inhibitors?
These structured sets of evidence-based interventions, when taken together, improve outcomes and are commonly used to reduce complications like surgical infections.
What is an infection prevention bundle?
This standardized survey program collects and publicly reports patients’ perspectives on hospital care, including communication, responsiveness, and cleanliness.
What is HCAHPS?
This concept describes the shared beliefs, attitudes and behaviors within an organization that reflect its commitment to safety and encourage reporting and learning from mistakes.
What is a safety culture?
This term describes the overall perception of care formed by every interaction a patient has with the healthcare system, including communication, environment, and follow-up.
What is patient experience?
Providers are required to consult this when prescribing schedule II, III, IV controlled substances.
What is I Stop?