Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) monitors mortality rates as an important indication of the quality of care provided. We track mortality rates for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients and patients who have received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (typically angioplasties and stents) to improve blood flow in the heart. The New York State Department of Health produces reports that compare SBUH’s mortality rates for CABG and PCI with other hospitals in the state of New York. The reports can be accessed by going directly to http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/diseases/cardiovascular
SBUH is a level one trauma center and part of the NYS Trauma System Program, which periodically issues reports produced by the NYS Department of Health that compares the mortality rates of Trauma patients for hospitals in the Program by location (Suffolk, Nassau). Two types of mortality are examined: "in-patient" (only those severely injured patients who died after being admitted to the trauma center hospital) and "in-hospital" (all severely injured patients who died in the hospital — both the "in-patient" and those that died in the emergency department). The reports can be accessed by going directly to http://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/state_trauma/trauma_system_reports.htm
A hospital-acquired infection is an infection that occurs in a patient as a result of being in a hospital setting after having medical or surgical treatment. SBUH has implemented a series of routine steps to prevent infections. These steps or principles are mandatory and monitoring is done to ensure employees, doctors and visitors are following the proper infection prevention procedures.
Examples include:
- Complete and thorough hand washing.
- Use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, gowns, and/or masks when caring for patients in selected situations to prevent the spread of infections.
- Use of an infection prevention checklist when putting central lines in patients, which reminds healthcare workers to:
- Clean their hands thoroughly.
- Clean the patient’s skin before insertion with an antiseptic.
- Wear the recommended sterile gown, gloves and mask.
- Place sterile barriers around the insertion site, etc.
The NYS Department of Health produces reports that compare SBUH’s hospital-acquired infection rates with other hospitals in the state of New York. The reports can be accessed by going directly to http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/facilities/hospital/hospital_acquired_infections/