Section # 1- Quality improvement project.

a)      Project Development

Infection prevention and control in the General Hospital Q.I. project was based on three central interventions: following a strict hand washing procedure, new cleaning techniques, and enhanced staff awareness of infection control measures. These interventions arose from current evidence from the reviewed literature or generated from evidence-based best preventive measures against infections (Shaw, P.L., Elliott, C., Isaacson, P. and Murphy, E., 2015)

b)     Evidence-based interventions

Hand Hygiene Protocol: This is the most successful prevention strategy for reducing the rates of Health Associated Infections (HAIs). The rise in the frequency of hand washing on the hospital premises correlated to a fall in the cases of HAIs (Ruppel & Konecny, 2000). Implementing this protocol involved a standardized procedure requiring staff to follow specific procedures before and after patient treatment. The hospital also ensured that hand sanitizers were strategically placed so that the personnel used them often and adherence was checked. This emphasis on hand hygiene as a critical method of infection control aligns directly with the project’s core intervention (Ferraro et al., 2020).

Enhanced Cleaning Procedures: Water and soap are vital for infection control after cleaning and hygiene. Finally, this supportive film, Hospital Management, aims to educate the audience about HAIs and the role of cleaning and disinfecting to reduce the risk of cross-contamination(Issel, L.M., Wells, R. and Williams, M., 2021). These enhanced cleaning techniques form the second pillar of the project’s interventions, ensuring comprehensive measures for infection control.

Staff Education: It is essential to ensure that the staff in the healthcare sectors are trained to apply the techniques and methods of effective infection control and, therefore, remain compliant. The education of the doctors was identified to be crucial in the creation of clinical guidelines, as well as their implementation and maintenance (Buttigieg et al., 2016). This aligns with the project’s aim to enhance awareness and knowledge among staff, making it the third central intervention

c)      Leadership Practices and Quality of Change.

Strong Leadership and a high-quality management tool were essential to the entire process to ensure the project’s success and effectiveness.

Transformational Leadership: This style was adopted by the leaders within the General Hospital to ensure that an environment within the organization was being supported, allowing for change and creative improvement. For this purpose, transformational leadership best suits organizational change and performance development to encourage hand hygiene, adopt cleaning procedures, and staff education (Spath, P. and DeVane, K.A., 2009). The leadership practices directly supported the implementation of evidence-based interventions

d)     Quality Management Approach

Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Cycle: The PDSA cycle is a five-step process used in activities that can lead to significant learning and subsequent knowledge to ensure improvements in a process or product. Implementing projects such as planning, doing, studying, and acting accordingly will increase cleaning and hygiene practices at the general hospital (Hamilton et al., 2022). The PDSA cycle was fundamental in applying and refining the evidence-based interventions.

Data-Driven Decision Making:. Data such as the number of infections, hand washing rates, and patient outcomes were readily measurable and used to determine the success of the intervention and identify areas of further focus. This is appropriate since quality management is premised on a scientific approach, which relies on data to make decisions. This data-driven approach was used to continuously monitor and improve the interventions, ensuring they were effective.

Hand Hygiene Protocol. Hand washing was standardized by instituting a strict protocol requiring staff to follow specific procedures before and after patient treatment. The hospital also ensured that hand sanitizers were strategically placed so that the personnel used them often and adherence was checked. It is emphasized that hand hygiene is the most positive and efficient method of infection control in the healthcare environment (Ferraro et al., 2020).

Patient Safety Risk Reduction:

The building was targeted to achieve the ultimate goal of reducing HAIs and improving patient safety. This is well supported by the Institute of Medicine (I.O.M.) guidelines in healthcare Quality, which strongly consider safety. Using the techniques and protocols to reduce the risk of Healthcare Associated Infections using sanitizers, gloves, and personal protective equipment. It is recommended to use sterilization & disinfection techniques and procedures (Clayton & Miller, 2017).

Monitoring and Feedback: Continuous monitoring and feedback are crucial to increasing the effectiveness of patient safety improvement. Procedures such as Antibiotic stewardship programs need to be implemented. Infection control audits and staff and patient vaccinations need to be adopted. Surveillance and monitoring steps, which include infection surveillance and data analysis, need to be implemented (Jarvis, 2004).

Professional Standards

The following is essential for providing high-quality and a positive impact on patients.

• Alcohol-based rubs should be used as often as necessary if hands are not visibly soiled or if alcohol-based rubs must contain at least 60% alcohol.
• Regularly monitor the health care workers for their hand washing behaviors and their reactions and responses to the performance.
• The gloves must be removed when approaching and/or interacting with blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions, or contaminated material.
• Wear gloves and aprons on the skin and clothes where there are likely to be splashes and sprays during procedures.
• Use the mask for every procedure involving splashes or sprays on the mucous membranes.
• Switch gears and any other fiddly and susceptible surfaces and equipment should be cleaned and disinfected at least once daily.
• Approved E.P.A. disinfectants or those registered under the Drugs, Cosmetic, and Device Act should be diluted and used according to concentration, contact time, and the contact site at the manufacturer’s instructions
• Each injection has to be made with a new, non-reusable syringe and needle.
• Laminate or seal used syringes and dispose of them in sharps disposal containers for the physical disposal of sharps.
• Reform the antibiotics noes and reconsider their change in the culture results and the severity of the patient’s clinical conditions.
• Offer care of catheterization by adequately inserting the correct aseptic catheters.
• Catheterization must only be performed when it is critical because it aids in the rapid development of the infection.
• If the bladder is closed, a catheter, tubing, or towels should also be used to keep the collection bag below the bladder.
• Inform the patient about the requirement of a complete sterile barrier at the time of central venous catheter insertion.
• The skin antisepsis preparations used in the skin antisepsis process are the chlorhexidine drug skin antisepsis preparations.