Hospitalwide monitoring of infection control

Responsibility for infection control lies with all hospital departments in proportion to patient contact share. The primary focus in the development of a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) team concept was determined by the concern over increased surgical wound infections at Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, San Antonio, Texas, during the previous year. Concerns over increased morbidity and mortality and extended lengths of stay created a major impetus to implement phase II of the hospitalwide monitoring of infection control at the facility. The implementation of this hospitalwide monitor illustrates the diversity of ways in which employees are empowered, encouraged, and expected to become involved in daily implementation of CQI.