Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies Bring Real-World Evidence to Infection Risk Management to Help Medical University of South Carolina Reduce Infection Risk in the OR

The need to address infection risk is an increasing priority for health systems, as evidenced by the recently revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), 2017. This convergence is driving demand to optimize care and reduce variation in patient outcomes, especially when patient outcomes are adversely affected by healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). These infections can create significant financial challenges for providers. On a per-case basis, central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and SSIs are among the costliest healthcare-associated infections: SSIs and CLABSIs account for more than half of the total annual costs associated with the most common HAIs.¹ Overall, HAIs cost hospitals billions of dollars annually. HAIs are also one of the leading causes of death in U.S. acute care hospitals, with nearly 90,000 patients estimated to die annually and approximately two million patients affected by HAIs each year.²

"Healthcare-associated infections are a very real concern that can have significant ramifications for everyone involved. We are committed to being a leader in infection risk reduction efforts and have engaged the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies to help us reduce infection risk in our surgical facilities," said Danielle Scheurer, MD, MSCR, SFHM, Hospitalist and Chief Quality Officer, Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina. "Through its evidence-based approach, JJMDC is helping us to identify and address our needs specific to infection risk management, including appropriate techniques for its products, and provide training and education resources for our care team members. Our common goal is providing the highest level of patient care possible."

The engagement with MUSC leverages the unique capabilities of CareAdvantage from the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies**, specifically its Infection Risk Management capability designed to provide a holistic, data-driven approach to help hospitals and health systems address the risks of infection throughout the care pathway.

The Infection Risk Management capability helps address risk factors of costly infections, can reduce variation in clinical practices and purchasing patterns, and enables engagement of patients and staff throughout an episode of care, potentially helping hospitals and health systems adjust to the market shift from volume to value-based care. The program starts with listening and provides evidence-based practices that can be used to address risk factors for bloodstream infections (BSIs) and SSIs using the JJMDC portfolio, including patient resources, to facilitate optimal wound healing post-surgery. 

"Infection risk management has never been more important to helping hospitals meet the Triple Aim goal of reducing cost, improving outcomes and increasing patient satisfaction. Healthcare-associated infections can create significant financial and operational challenges for provider organizations. Based on careful evaluation of evidence, our approach focuses on effective, efficient patient care delivery and fits naturally as a priority in successful value-based care practices," said Christina Farup, M.D., Vice President, Health Economics and Market Access, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies.

The Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies have a long history of expertise in helping healthcare providers address risk for infections, starting in 1887 with the mass production of sterile sutures. Today, JJMDC's portfolio includes innovative medical devices, such as triclosan-coated sutures, to address a risk factor associated with SSIs, while also bringing advanced sterilization products to meet health systems' needs. The use of triclosan-coated sutures are now supported in guidelines by leading organizations, including Centers for Disease Control (CDC)³ and the World Health Organization.⁴

For providers interested in learning more about infection risk management, Ethicon US, LLC, a Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Company, will host a breakfast symposium at the 2017 APIC Annual Conference on Thursday, June 15, from 6:45 – 8:15 a.m. PT, in the Oregon Ballroom 202-203. At the event, specialists will discuss how the risks associated with bloodstream and surgical site infection may be targeted for reduction through evidence-based practices and JJMDC products that help achieve an institution's overall goals. Information about CareAdvantage will be presented by JJMDC during APIC at booth #1127.

For more information about CareAdvantage from the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, including the Infection Risk Management capability, visit www.careadvantagejjmdc.com. For discussions on a variety of topics in value-based care, visit Voices for Value on LinkedIn.

About the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies
The Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies' purpose is to reach more patients and restore more lives. Having advanced patient care for more than a century, these companies represent an unparalleled breadth of products, services, programs and research and development capabilities in surgical technology, orthopaedics, cardiovascular and specialty solutions with an offering directed at delivering clinical and economic value to health care systems worldwide.

About Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.
Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. (JJHCS) provides contracting, supply chain, business services, and strategic solutions to customers and commercial intermediaries of U.S.-based Johnson & Johnson companies, including hospital systems, health plans, distributors, wholesalers, purchasing organizations, government payer programs, and government healthcare institutions in the U.S.  JJHCS also engages with customers to provide streamlined supply chain services for our products that seamlessly integrate with customer operations, address shared evolving market challenges to value-based care, and develop innovative solutions that improve patient care and access.

* The Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies comprise the surgery, orthopaedics, and cardiovascular businesses within Johnson & Johnson's Medical Devices segment.

**CareAdvantage from the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies is offered through Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.

¹ Zimlichman E, Henderson D, Tamir O, et al.. "Health Care–Associated Infections: A Meta-analysis of Costs and Financial Impact on the US Health Care System," JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(22):2039-2046.

² Patricia W Stone. "Economic Burden of Healthcare-associated Infections: An American Perspective," ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, last modified in 2010, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2827870/

³ Sandra I. Berríos-Torres, MD¹; Craig A. Umscheid, MD, MSCE²; Dale W. Bratzler, DO, MPH³; et al. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2017. JAMA Surg. 2017 May 3.

⁴ Global Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2016, World Health Organization, 2016.

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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies