Central Illinois Endoscopy Center, Capstone Project Example

The Central Illinois Endoscopy Center (CIEC) is the largest freestanding endoscopy center. They have proudly managed to maintain 95% satisfaction rate for their customers. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has recognized this facility for providing quality in endoscopy. They were honored by ASGE by following the guidelines for quality assurance, endoscopy reprocessing, privileging, and CDC infection control guidelines as well as completely specific training for safety and quality in endoscopy. With all the success this facility has encountered, they have committed to move forward with Healthy People 2020 with the specific focus being on their staff and employees. This health promotion program will benefit not only the center, but will ensure that every patient continues to get the best care they possibly can.

The Central Illinois Endoscopy Center has committed to participate in the Healthy People 2020 by focusing on the staff and employees. The goals of this center are to prevent, reduce, and ultimately eliminate healthcare-association infections (HAIs); and to promote the health and safety of people at work through prevention and early intervention. This is what is considered to be controllable areas. HAIs are infections that patients get as a result of being treated for other conditions. The infections obtained from medical care can be deadly. Also focusing on promoting health and safety of their employees through prevention is essential as well. Committing to not only employees health but the patients will enable Central Illinois Endoscopy Center to remain on top.

CIEC has definite internal needs to maintain the high standards and expectations they have set for themselves. This is not done by setting the bar and expecting everything to go as planned. A large portion of the success that this center has found is based on their employees. The company has certain standards already in place to help in promoting the new goals set. Currently they require and supply the employees to take an annual TB skin test. They also provide annual flu shots as a preventative measure. In the event that an employee refuses to take the flu shot or has an allergy to it, they are required to wear a mask at all times while at work. Hand sanitizer is available in all patient, procedure, scope room, and all desk areas. The director does random checks to verify proper compliance of hygiene. Health insurance is available for everyone in the company.

These goals set are obtainable by maintaining the standards already in place. According to an article in The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc., and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, they set the basics for success with eliminating HAIs. “On the basis of lessons from recent successes, we propose that the elimination of HAIs will require constant action and vigilance (1) to promote adherence to evidence-based practices through partnering, educating, implementing, and investing; (2) to increase sustainability through the alignment of financial incentives and reinvestment in successful strategies; (3) to fill knowledge gaps to respond to emerging threats through basic, translational, and epidemiological research; and (4) to collect data to target prevention efforts and to measure progress. These efforts must be underpinned by sufficient investment” (Cardo et al., 2010).

A key point that was made was vigilance. This is an essential step in gaining control of HAIs. Education and implementation is a big part as well. How well CIEC rolls out a plan to their employees and follows up with the success of it. These goals have to be clear and measurable for it to be successful. With less expense and cost associated with HAIs, these funds can be turned into incentives and overall profit. And finally collect data on what took place in the event of an HAI. This will be a way to record and measure progress but also a tool to measure the programs overall success.

When focusing on promoting health and safety of their employees through prevention Central Illinois Endoscopy Center has to reassess their current plan. An article in the Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine they show how Johnson & Johnson address this area.

“To engage employees in the program, Johnson & Johnson offered a $500 medical benefit plan credit to program participants. Employees were invited to participate in a voluntary HRA, including biometric screening; if they accepted the invitation, they became eligible for the medical benefit credit. The screening determined if the employees were potentially at “high risk”; if so, they were then referred to the PTC “high risk” program” (Goetzel et al., 2008). Being given an incentive created an environment for more employees to willingly participate.

Safety programs are in place for all employees to protect themselves and the patients that they service daily. Encouraging healthy personal choices will carry over and ultimately benefit the company. Mandating flu shots and TB testing is not extensive enough for preventative measures. This is where Johnson & Johnson made incentives for voluntary participation in biometric screening. To prevent what can be prevented prior to it getting to a higher or more complicated level. Safety is also important. CIEC complies with all state, federal, and individual standards set to prevent unnecessary cost and potential harm. By Central Illinois Endoscopy Center committing to participate in Healthy People 2020 and getting their employees involved this program will be successful.

References:

Cardo, Denise; Penelope H. Dennehy; Paul Halverson; Neil Fishman; Mel Kohn; Cathryn Murphy; & Richard Whitely. (2010) Moving Toward Elimination of Healthcare- Associated Infections: A Call to Action. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc., and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Goetzel, Ron Z.; Ronald J. Ozminkowski; Jennifer A. Bruno; Kathleen R. Rutter; Fikry Isaac; & Shaohun Wang. (2008) The Long-Term Impact of Johnson & Johnson’s Health & Wellness Program on Employee Health Risks. Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine 44:417–424.