Wabash General Hospital is implementing a new infection-prevention protocol for patients undergoing joint replacement surgery.
Executive Vice President of Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer Kim Pearson outlined several medical staff recommendations during a recent Board of Directors meeting.
Pearson said patients preparing for total joint replacements will begin a decolonization protocol five days before surgery. The protocol includes mupirocin ointment applied inside the nostrils along with CHG bathing in an effort to reduce the risk of infection.
The board also approved a change involving tube feeding, increasing water flushes from every six hours to every four hours.
In addition, Wabash General is preparing to offer dermatology as a new service. Pearson said the hospital did not previously have a delineation of privileges for dermatologists, so new privileges were developed and approved by the medical staff.
The board also approved updated emergency room privileges and the annual review of the hospital’s blood bank service agreement. Pearson said there were no changes to the blood bank agreement, but an annual review was required.
All of the recommendations had previously received medical staff approval and were approved by the hospital board.