Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital - Patient Safety

The most recent patient safety data for Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is shared below.

Patient Safety 

What We Measure

The Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR) is the ratio of observed-to-expected infections. SIRs below 1.00 indicate that the observed number of infections was lower than would be expected under normal conditions. Values above 1.00 indicate that the observed number of infections was higher than expected. Some, but not all patient-specific risk factors are included in the adjustment of the SIR for these types of infections. The SIRs for hospitals performing complex procedures or with larger volumes of trauma or emergency procedures may not be adequately adjusted to account for those patient-specific risk factors.

Healthcare Associated Infections

C. difficile is a germ (bacterium) that causes severe diarrhea and colitis (an inflammation of the colon). Most cases of C. difficile occur when you’ve been taking antibiotics or not long after you’ve finished taking antibiotics. Other risk factors include:

  • Being 65 or older
  • Recent stay at a hospital or nursing home
  • A weakened immune system, such as people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or organ transplant patients taking immunosuppressive drugs
  • Previous infection with C. diff or known exposure to the germs

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital - Patient Safety - C. difficile data Click to Enlarge

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics. MRSA most often causes skin infections and in some cases, it causes pneumonia and other infections. If left untreated, MRSA infections can become severe and cause sepsis—the body’s extreme response to an infection.

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital - Patient Safety - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) data Click to Enlarge

What We Do to Prevent

  • Cottage Health has a robust antibiotic stewardship program run by specially trained pharmacists and physicians. Every day they review the antibiotics inpatients have been prescribed to ensure they are necessary and appropriate.
  • High risk patient care rooms are cleaned with bleach and sprayed with an electrostatic spraying system which is the best method to kill germs.
  • Vigorous handwashing and use of appropriate personal protective gear to prevent possible spread within our facilities.

Surgical Site Infections

Surgical Site Infections in Colorectal Surgeries - During colon surgery, a surgeon cuts into the patient’s body for the purpose of fixing or removing diseased or damaged parts of the colon. Sometimes the area of the body where the surgery takes place can become infected. We track surgical site infection (SSI) that occur within 30 days of a procedure. SSIs can involve the skin, tissues under the skin, organs, or implanted material and are tracked for 30 days after the procedure.

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital - Patient Safety - Colorectal Surgeries data Click to Enlarge

Surgical Site Infections in Abdominal Hysterectomy Surgeries - An abdominal hysterectomy is a type of procedure in which a doctor removes the uterus by making an opening in the abdomen. Sometimes the area of the body where the surgery takes place can become infected. This is called a surgical site infection (SSI). SSIs can involve the skin, tissues under the skin, organs, or implanted material and are tracked for 30 days after the procedure.

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital - Patient Safety - Abdominal Hysterectomy Surgeries data Click to Enlarge

What We Do to Prevent

A “care bundle” is a set of practices that when performed consistently for each patient has been shown to minimize the risk of infection. We utilize surgical site care bundles which consist of multiple items including:

  • Providing patients with shower kit to use the night before and morning of their surgery.
  • Educating patients before the procedure on how to prevent a surgical site infection once they are at home. (insert link to SSI prevention booklet).
  • Prepping patient’s skin with Chloraprep before incision in the Operating Room (OR)
  • Appropriate antibiotic selection, dose, timing and re-dosing in the OR
  • Changing gloves and gowns before closure in the OR

Device Related Infections

Central line-associated bloodstream Infection: A central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is a serious infection that occurs when germs (usually bacteria or viruses) enter the bloodstream through the central line.

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital - Patient Safety - Central line-associated bloodstream Infection data Click to Enlarge

Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection: A urinary tract infection is an infection involving any part of the urinary system, including urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidney. Though considered largely preventable, catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most common health care associated infection reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital - Patient Safety - Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection data Click to Enlarge

What We Do to Prevent

  • We follow strict protocols when inserting Central Line and Foleys to ensure sterility.
  • We use stringent daily infection control practices to ensure the indwelling devices are properly cleaned and maintained.
  • We follow evidence-based practices to remove these devices as soon as they are no longer medically necessary.