What are the best statistical process control (SPC) strategies to reduce hospital-acquired infections?

2 How to apply SPC to HAIs?

To apply SPC to HAIs, health care organizations need to follow a systematic approach that involves four main steps: define, measure, analyze, and improve. In the define step, they need to identify the key HAIs that they want to monitor and reduce, such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), surgical site infections (SSIs), or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). They also need to define the scope, objectives, and stakeholders of the SPC project. In the measure step, they need to collect and organize data on the HAIs and their related factors, such as infection rates, patient characteristics, compliance with best practices, and environmental conditions. They need to use reliable and valid data sources and methods, such as electronic health records, surveillance systems, or audits. In the analyze step, they need to use SPC charts, such as run charts, control charts, or Pareto charts, to display and analyze the data over time. They need to look for patterns, trends, outliers, and signals that indicate changes or problems in the process. They also need to use statistical tests, such as hypothesis tests, confidence intervals, or process capability analysis, to compare and evaluate the data against the benchmarks and goals. In the improve step, they need to use the results of the analysis to identify the root causes of variation and problems, and to implement and evaluate improvement actions, such as education, feedback, checklists, or bundles. They need to monitor the impact of the improvement actions on the HAIs and the process, and to make adjustments as needed.

3 What are the benefits of SPC for HAIs?

SPC can provide numerous advantages for health care organizations that wish to avoid and reduce HAIs. It can measure and improve the quality and safety of care, identify and eliminate sources of variation and waste that contribute to HAIs, increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the infection prevention and control program, engage and empower the staff and stakeholders, as well as demonstrate and communicate the value and impact of the infection prevention and control program. All of these benefits can help reduce HAIs, while also improving patient outcomes.

4 What are the challenges of SPC for HAIs?

SPC can present some challenges for health care organizations that wish to apply it to HAIs. For instance, SPC necessitates a clear and consistent definition and measurement of HAIs, which can be difficult to establish due to differences in criteria, methods, and data sources used across various settings and organizations. Furthermore, it requires a sufficient and reliable data collection and management system, which can be costly and complex to implement and sustain, particularly for large and diverse health care organizations. Additionally, SPC necessitates a skilled and trained staff and stakeholders who can understand and use the statistical methods and tools, interpret the data, take action on it, and get involved in improvement activities. Finally, SPC needs a supportive and collaborative leadership and culture that can facilitate the implementation of the SPC project as well as its improvement, while also overcoming potential barriers or resistance to change.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?