Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital has achieved an impressive 90% reduction in in-hospital Clostridioides difficile (C.diff) infections in its nephrology unit since 2023. An innovative strategy employed by the unit’s leaders was central to this remarkable progress. They utilized the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP), a system developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to target infection risks. The CUSP method involves the use of teamwork, safety science, and best clinical practices, culminating in a progressive approach that identifies and eliminates potential safety gaps.
The unit leaders successfully implemented a nurse-driven protocol under the CUSP framework, having symptomatic patients tested for C.diff within the first three days of their admission. This proactive approach allowed for the precise identification of patients with hospital-acquired infections versus those with pre-existing conditions, resulting in quicker initiation of effective treatment.
Alongside this, the unit staff received practical training on proper isolation techniques, participated in bedside case studies, and carried badge cards containing detailed C.diff protocols. Furthermore, in light of this program’s success, several of its components have been adopted across the hospital, which has about 800 beds.
C.diff is a significant healthcare challenge, causing an estimated half-a-million infections each year in the U.S. with the elderly and those with compromised immune systems particularly vulnerable. Often instigated during or immediately after antibiotic therapy, this infection thrives when the body’s beneficial gut microbiota is disrupted.
This exemplary success of the Henry Ford Hospital in combating C.diff underlines the power of innovative solutions and their potential to transform healthcare safety. It proves the integral role of direct, hands-on initiatives in coordinating and improving patient care outcomes across large healthcare facilities.