The most significant challenge in improving quality and patient safety is to implement strategies, processes, and protocols that can be sustained so that care is improved over the long run. GNYHA, in partnership with the United Hospital Fund (UHF), has risen to this challenge and identified the reduction of central line–associated bloodstream (CLAB) infections as a model project to achieve sustainable quality improvement and thus save thousands of lives.

GNYHA and UHF have implemented this quality improvement collaborative demonstrating the use of proven infection control practices in intensive care units (ICUs) to improve the quality of care and patient safety. Thirty-eight hospitals throughout the Greater New York region are participating in the CLABs Collaborative. The goals of the project are to eliminate CLABs in ICUs and to create a quality improvement model for optimizing patient care.

In partnership with IPRO, the New York State independent health care quality improvement organization, the CLABs Collaborative has also developed a Web site called “Joint Effort New York” (JENY), which is an interactive forum where hospitals can share information and obtain needed technical resources and support in order to implement safe practices.

For information on the CLABs Collaborative, go to JENY.