$2.4 Million Contract to Help Reduce Infections in Nebraska Health Facilities

The University of Nebraska Medical Center and its hospital partner, Nebraska Medicine, in conjunction with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (dhhs.ne.gov) , have established a center with a $2.4 million, three-year contract that will help health providers across Nebraska reduce the number of infections patients get in health care facilities.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded the funds to (DHHS), which contracted with the medical center. It is part of a nationwide effort to reduce health care-associated infections (HAI). Health care associated infections include central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, and infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms.

DHHS has been working to reduce HAIs in Nebraska in conjunction with the Great Plains Quality Innovation Network, a non-profit health care quality improvement organization. The contract establishes the Nebraska Infection Control Assessment and Promotion Program (ICAP) at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine in Omaha.

The team will work with health facilities across the state where patients are cared for, including long term care, acute care, rehabilitation, surgical, and skilled nursing, to employ current guidelines and tools for infection prevention. In addition, the group will evaluate the status of existing capacities and policies, provider training and the capability to detect and control infectious disease outbreaks.

For more information on Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) visit dhhs.ne.gov.