Surgical Site InfectionsOur Goal: Zero Surgical Site Infection Rate
At Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, achieving a rate of zero surgical site infections (SSI) is one of our safety culture transformation top priorities. Many SSIs can be prevented, and we have developed guidelines to do just that. We continue to monitor our rates and develop action plans to prevent recurrences.
Why We Measure
With any surgery, bacteria can enter the body and cause an SSI. The infection can set in through the wound or the incision and spread. This can be a serious complication for children who are already ill. Patients who develop an SSI can experience:
- Longer hospital stays
- Slower recoveries
- Higher costs
How We Measure
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital measures our rate of SSIs by calculating the number of infections for every 100 specific surgical procedures performed. We measure SSIs after certain spinal and brain shunt surgeries, because these procedures are more invasive and have a higher risk for developing SSIs.
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