Publications by authors named "A K F Gushken"

Lean healthcare visual management has been successfully integrated into infection control programs, leading to lower healthcare-associated infection (HAI) rates and greater provider compliance with evidence-based prevention practices; however, its implementation during quality improvement (QI) initiatives in limited-resource settings has not yet been well exploited. We aimed to describe a low-cost strategy involving Kamishibai cards to sustain bundles' adherence to prevent HAIs in a middle-income country. This descriptive case study evaluated the implementation of a lean healthcare visual management tool-Kamishibai board (K-board)-during a nationwide QI collaborative preventing three critical HAIs in 189 adult and pediatric/neonatal intensive care units (ICUs) from September 2021 to January 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) have a significant impact on patients' morbidity and mortality, and have a detrimental financial impact on the healthcare system. Various strategies exist to prevent HAIs, but economic evaluations are needed to determine which are most appropriate.

Aim: To present the financial impact of a nationwide project on HAI prevention in intensive care units (ICUs) using a quality improvement (QI) approach.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A quality improvement initiative in Brazil started in 2018 aimed to decrease healthcare-associated infections in ICUs, achieving significant reductions over two years.
  • As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, the initiative made necessary adaptations to continue its efforts.
  • The study highlights how the pandemic influenced the outcomes of the quality improvement project.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Although there are simple and low-cost measures to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), they remain a major public health problem. Quality issues and a lack of knowledge about HAI control among healthcare professionals may contribute to this scenario. In this study, our aim is to present the implementation of a project to prevent HAIs in intensive care units (ICUs) using the quality improvement (QI) collaborative model Breakthrough Series (BTS).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF