About Infection Control at Martin Memorial
At Martin Memorial Health Systems, patient safety is our number one priority. We are aggressive and proactive in our infection control protocol, adopting the newest national standards and practices.
Martin Memorial employs three infection control practitioners, including two certified infection control professionals, who work with a physician-led infection control committee to develop procedures and protocols designed to prevent infections from occurring. Michael Romano, MD, leads the infection control committee as chairman and began working as a hospitalist at Martin Memorial a decade ago. As a hospitalist, Dr. Romano treats patients who stay in the hospital exclusively and is board-certified in internal medicine and pulmonary disease.
What We Do to Prevent Infection
Martin Memorial is diligent in its infection control processes. Numerous programs have been implemented to educate both medical staff as well as the public about steps they can take to prevent infection, both in the hospital and in the community. Some of the latest steps we have taken include:
- Surgery infection rates: as part of our commitment to being a leader in the fight against community and hospital-associated infections, Martin Memorial periodically publishes its hospital-associated infection rates. See Martin Memorial's infection rates.
- Hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection. We have approximately 1,000 hand sanitizing stations in the lobbies of both hospitals, in patient rooms and in the entry ways to those rooms, as well as signage to indicate where to find those hand sanitizing stations and what they are used for. We continuously strive to educate our staff, patients and visitors about the importance of hand washing. In addition, each patient room and bathroom is cleaned daily/between patients. All surfaces (counter tops, beds, hand rails, patient care equipment, etc.) are disinfected with a chemical solution formulated to kill infectious bacteria, spores, and viruses. Barriers (covers, etc.) are used whenever possible. Learn more about hand washing and how you can help in the prevention of infection.
- Preventing the spread of MRSA: Starting in January 2007, we joined a new VHA study designed to test patients for MRSA in the hospitals' ICUs. Patients coming into the ICUs at the Medical Center and Hospital South have a culture taken and tested for MRSA. If a culture is positive, the patient is placed in isolation and additional precautions are taken to ensure MRSA is not passed to other patients or clinical staff. Read more about MRSA.
- Patient and visitor education: Martin Memorial's Infection Control Department, in collaboration with all of Martin Memorial's employees, strives to provide an environment that is safe from infection. Infections can make patients weak and uncomfortable, lead to more time in the hospital and can impact recovery. The prevention and control of infections is a major part of Martin Memorial's patient safety program.
The hospital's infection control guidelines offer many ways to help reduce and prevent infections. While you are at the hospital, these guidelines help ensure your health and the health of every patient. Maintaining a safe hospital environment is very important. Germs and infections can travel from patient to patient, from patient to staff, from staff to patient, from visitor to patient, or patient to visitor. Prevention is basic to fighting many infections. Read more about what we do to keep patients safe while in the hospital, and what patients and visitors can do to avoid infection.
- Staff training and procedure improvement: as well as following standard infection control procedures, all staff are required to be educated upon hire and annually thereafter. Martin Memorial also has an active Infection Control Department which employs written infection control policies. As the current knowledge of infection transmission and disease is constantly evolving, Martin Memorial continuously evaluates its infection control protocol, and ensures their employees understand the proper implementation of infection control measures. Martin Memorial continually monitors its procedures for compliance with the U.S. Dept. of Labor Occupation Safety & Health Administration, Centers for Disease Control, The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Foundation and other recommending professional organizations.
Resources for More Information
Contact Us
Bonnie Hannon, RN, BSN
Manager, Infection Control
Martin Memorial Health Systems
P.O. Box 9010
Stuart, FL 34995
(772) 419-2966
bhannon@mmhs-fla.org