Merging health care systems: An example of utilizing quality principles in infection prevention standardization

Brenda Ehlert; Anthony Zeimet

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2019.04.002

Merging health care systems: An example of utilizing quality principles in infection prevention standardization

Am J Infect Control. 2019 Nov;47(11):1390-1392. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.04.002. Epub 2019 May 4.

Authors

Brenda Ehlert¹, Anthony Zeimet²

Affiliations

¹ Quality Systems, Ascension Wisconsin, Glendale, WI. Electronic address: brenda.ehlert@ascension.org.
² Affinity Medical Group, Ascension Medical Group, Appleton, WI.

PMID: 31060871
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.04.002

Abstract

When Ascension Wisconsin was formed, it merged 4 long-established health systems: Ministry Health Care, Affinity Health System, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, and Columbia St Mary's. One of the challenges encountered during the first year was redundancy in many policies and processes. Setting a structure, establishing goals, and evaluating progress led to success for Ascension Wisconsin's Infection Prevention Council.

Keywords: Formation; Merge; Policy; Standard; Team.

MeSH terms

Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration*
Humans
Wisconsin
Workflow