University of Louisville Hospital, part of KentuckyOne Health, has been named a recipient of the 2013 Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) Quality Award. The facility was recognized at the organization’s annual meeting, which was held on May 11.

The hospital was selected among facilities with 250+ beds, and was chosen based on a program implemented in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MCIU) to reduce the number of infections and pneumonia related to a central line or ventilator. Through the use of educational campaigns, staff meetings, in-services, checklists and changes to the patient care provided, the facility has seen sustained infection prevention since its implementation in 2009.

“We’re honored to be recognized for our efforts in utilizing best practices to provide top-notch patient care,” said Ken Marshall, interim president, University of Louisville Hospital. “We’re focused on providing our staff members with the tools they need to ensure quality care and patient safety throughout the facility.”

The multi-departmental study was highlighted in the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine on November 15, 2012. The effectiveness of the evidence-based practices in the on-going study was measured by statistical data. The study was a collaboration between the division of pulmonary, critical care, sleep medicine, the department of internal medicine, the division of infectious disease and the department of nursing at University of Louisville Hospital.

The Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award is presented to honor hospital leadership and innovation in quality, safety, and commitment in patient care. The goal is to raise awareness of the need for an organization-wide commitment to highly reliable, exceptional quality, patient-centered care and reward successful efforts to develop and promote improvements in quality of care.