CareFusion Foundation Announces Clinical Excellence Grant Recipients

SAN DIEGO, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The CareFusion Foundation today announced the recipients of more than $500,000 in grant funding to help develop and share infection prevention best practices. Grants of up to $50,000 were awarded to 11 U.S. nonprofit health care institutions as part of the Foundation's inaugural Clinical Excellence Grant Program.

"Infection prevention is a critical concern among hospitals today," said Dr. Carlos Nunez, Chief Medical Officer for CareFusion. "We're pleased to help fund new and innovative programs to address infection prevention and support organizations that are prioritizing efforts to reduce health care associated infections and improve patient care."

Programs selected to receive grant funding in 2013 include:

• Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Baton Rouge, La.
  Expanding antimicrobial stewardship through the use of rapid diagnostics
• Boston Medical Center, Boston
  Preventing post-operative pulmonary complications: ICOUGH education project
• Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
  Implementation of standardized infection prevention protocol to eliminate surgical infections in pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for scoliosis
• The Cleveland VA Medical Research & Education Foundation, Cleveland
  Monitoring and feedback intervention to improve the quality of preoperative bathing
• NYU Langone Medical Center, New York
  The effects of antibiotic stewardship on surgical site infection rates at an orthopedic institution
• Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Penn.
  Prospective evaluation of procedural povidone iodine rectal preparation (PIRP) to reduce infectious complications following ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsy
• RML Specialty Hospital, Hinsdale, Ill.
  The impact of managing clutter on infection rates in a long-term acute care hospital
• Sharp Healthcare Foundation, San Diego
  "It's OK to Ask" hand hygiene education and awareness program
• St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, Syracuse, N.Y.
  Collaborative pilot program to reduce C. difficile rates in a long-term care environment
• University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, Colo.
  Determining high-touch areas in the operating room with levels of contamination
• Wayne State University Hospital, Detroit
  Automating surveillance for ventilator associated events

Programs selected for funding will address a range of infection prevention practices including patient and staff education, hand and environmental hygiene, skin preparation and clinical studies to establish tracking and prevention models for some of the most common health care associated infections (HAIs).

The 2013 Clinical Excellence Grant program is designed to help organizations implement programs to measurably improve infection prevention practices in a health care setting or provide patient education and outreach related to infection prevention. To be eligible for grant funding—a one-time endowment of up to $50,000 per organization—U.S.-based nonprofit health care institutions were invited to submit a written proposal detailing their program plan and expected results. Preference was given to evidence-based programs with potential to serve as best practice models for reducing HAIs.

Established in 2009, the CareFusion Foundation provides grant opportunities for U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations working to achieve clinical excellence and establish best practices in health care safety and efficiency. The CareFusion Foundation also supports CareFusion employees' efforts to give back through volunteerism and charitable giving. For more information, visit www.carefusion.com/giving.

About the CareFusion Foundation
Established in 2009, the CareFusion Foundation exists to create and support opportunities to improve the safety and cost of health care for generations to come. The Foundation also supports non-profit organizations that improve the wellness of communities where CareFusion employees live and work. More information may be found at www.carefusion.com/giving.

About CareFusion
CareFusion (NYSE: CFN) is a global corporation serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals measurably improve the safety and quality of care. The company develops industry-leading technologies including Alaris^® infusion pumps, Pyxis^® automated dispensing and patient identification systems, AVEA^®, AirLife^® and LTV® series ventilation and respiratory products, ChloraPrep^® products, MedMined^® services for data mining surveillance, V. Mueller^® surgical instruments, and an extensive line of products that support interventional medicine. CareFusion employs more than 15,000 people across its global operations. More information may be found at www.carefusion.com.

SOURCE CareFusion Foundation