Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Rates Drop 70% in Study

The CUSP process involves these five steps:

1. Staff are educated on the science of safety training.
2. Staff use a written survey to help identify defects based on unit reports, liability claims, and sentinel events.
3. A senior hospital executive partners with the unit to improve communications and educate leadership.
4. Staff learn from unit defects.
5. Staff use tools to improve teamwork, communication, and other systems of work.   

The report is another finding from the Michigan Keystone Project, which has previously revealed reductions in catheter-associated bloodstream infections from the use of checklists and hand washing.

Variations in CUSP projects funded by AHRQ are now implemented in 10 states and more than 100 hospitals nationally.

Interventions included semi-recumbent positioning, daily interruption of sedation infusions and prophylaxis for peptic ulcer disease and deep venous thrombosis.