Owensboro Health Regional Hospital was recently awarded the Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence designation by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. OHRH is one of 131 programs worldwide to have received the designation since the program’s launch in 2017.
The goal of antimicrobial stewardship is to ensure the most appropriate antibiotic is used for every patient who requires treatment. This includes how much, how long and how the medicine is given. This leads to better infection treatment and reduced side effects, better use of resources and, in most cases, decreased costs for both patients and the healthcare system.
Additionally, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance helps ensure the facility will have appropriate options for treating infections in the future.
“As hospitals continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are also reminded that antimicrobial resistance threatens our ability to treat patients each and every day,” said IDSA President Barbara D. Alexander. “IDSA continues to prioritize fighting antimicrobial resistance through research, education, training and policy initiatives. Our Centers of Excellence program recognizes hospitals that are joining us in that fight. These institutions exhibit the innovation and leadership needed to have an impact against antimicrobial resistance and have instituted practices for others to emulate.”
Recognized hospitals have created stewardship programs led by trained physicians and pharmacists that advance science in antimicrobial resistance. They also have achieved standards aligned with evidence-based national guidelines.
“We are honored to receive this Center of Excellence designation, which affirms our commitment to protecting our patients through the effective use of antibiotics,” said Debbie Bostic, Owensboro Health Chief Operating Officer.
The OHRH Antimicrobial Stewardship Program includes physicians, pharmacists, nurses, infection prevention specialists, laboratory staff and clinical educators. Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Dr. Lance Smith and Infectious Diseases Physician Dr. Gary Wilson lead the program.
“We are greatly honored to be designated as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence,” Smith said. “Stewardship team members at OHRH work tirelessly to improve outcomes for our patients, and efforts to optimize infectious disease treatment for today’s patients will also benefit tomorrow’s patients. For antimicrobial stewardship to be successful, the collaboration between multiple disciplines is necessary. A focus on teamwork has truly made our program impactful.”
