At a June 11 ceremony, the Connecticut Hospital Association presented Yale New Haven Hospital with the 2026 John D. Thompson Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Healthcare Through the Use of Data.
The award recognizes the hospital’s leadership in improving patient safety through its High-Risk Patient (MRSA) Prevention Initiative. Launched in 2023, the initiative significantly advanced the way the hospital identifies and protects patients at elevated risk for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections. The initiative replaced variable, reactive practices with a standardized, proactive approach that uses data to guide early intervention.
“I’m very proud of the team for taking an idea and turning it into action and taking a belief and turning it into lives saved,” said Katherine Heilpern, MD, YNHH president. “With patient safety and quality, you almost never arrive at the pinnacle. You keep going and climbing until you think that you can go no further, and yet you can, because there’s always an opportunity. This team did that in the most beautiful of ways.”
MRSA bloodstream infections can lead to serious complications, prolonged hospital stays and increased healthcare costs. While YNHH had established prevention measures, data showed more could be done to further reduce infection rates.
In response, a multidisciplinary YNHH team, including experts in infection prevention, quality and safety, nursing and operations, developed a prevention model that identifies high-risk patients early and initiates targeted nasal treatment protocols.
The initiative includes:
- Clear identification of high-risk patients, including those who are critically ill and have central lines or are undergoing hemodialysis
- Standardized, risk-based treatment pathways
- Integration into clinical workflows through automated identification and ordering
- Patient engagement to support participation in care
Results include:
- Reduced MRSA bloodstream infection rates from 0.61 to 0.36 per 10,000 patient days
- More than 80 percent compliance with prevention protocols
- Improved patient participation and fewer treatment refusals
By embedding these practices into routine care, YNHH has strengthened patient safety, consistency and the overall patient experience.
