Keystone ICU

In 2003 Holland Hospital partnered with Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System to bring state-of-the-art safety and quality techniques to our Intensive Care Unit.  Our participation in this project has led to adoption of a number of proven best practices which have enhanced the care we provide in the ICU:

• A daily evaluation of every ICU patient by the broad team of professionals caring for the patient, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, dieticians and physical therapists.
• Application of specific protocols to avoid two conditions which can compromise a patient’s progress while in ICU:  ventilator-associated (VAP) pneumonia and central line associated (CLABSI) blood stream infections
• Standardized criteria for managing the blood sugar levels in each ICU patient.  Research has shown that appropriate  control of blood sugar can dramatically improve recovery of the ICU patient
• Maintaining a cooperative environment where patients, their families, and involved staff can quickly bring the care team together to address any concerns.

Holland Hospital has been awarded recognition by the Keystone ICU Program for our participation and our excellent results. We will continue this partnership, and have now taken many of these practices into other areas of the hospital.