Our relationship with Mayo Clinic opens a new chapter for Altru Health System and gives Altru the opportunity to bring a new level of care to our region. Having access to Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and expertise comes with higher expectations for the quality of the care we provide. We are working towards achieving quality outcomes equal to the top providers in the nation.
Heart Attack Care
An acute myocardial infarction (AMI), also called a heart attack, happens when one of the heart’s arteries becomes blocked and the supply of blood and oxygen to part of the heart muscle is slowed or stopped. When the heart muscle doesn’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs, the affected heart tissue may die. These measures show some of the standards of care provided, if appropriate, for most adults who have had a heart attack.
Heart Failure Care
Heart failure is a weakening of the heart's pumping power. With heart failure, your body doesn't get enough oxygen and nutrients to meet its needs. These measures show some of the process of care provided for most adults with heart failure.
Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that causes difficulty breathing, fever, cough and fatigue. These measures show some of the recommended treatments for pneumonia.
Hospitals can reduce the risk of infection after surgery by making sure they provide care that’s known to get the best results for most patients. Here are some examples:
- Giving the recommended antibiotics at the right time before surgery.
- Stopping the antibiotics within the right timeframe after surgery.
- Maintaining the patient’s temperature and blood glucose (sugar) at normal levels.
- Removing catheters that are used to drain the bladder in a timely manner after surgery.
Hospitals can also reduce the risk of cardiac problems associated with surgery by:
- Making sure that certain prescription drugs are continued in the time before, during, and just after the surgery. This includes drugs used to control heart rhythms and blood pressure.
- Giving drugs that prevent blood clots and using other methods such as special stockings that increase circulation in the legs.
Hospital Acquired Conditions
This section shows certain injuries, infections, or other serious conditions that patients got while they were in the hospital. These conditions, also known as “Hospital Acquired Conditions,” are usually very rare. If they ever occur, hospital staff should identify and correct the problems that caused them.
Since 2010, being immunized for influenza is a condition of employment for Altru employees unless they have a medical or religious reason. Preventing influenza in healthcare workers helps protects patients, especially those who can't get a flu shot or who aren't well protected by vaccination. Reducing the risk of exposure to influenza while in our care is important.
Hand Hygiene Compliance
Hand hygiene is critical to reduce transmission of infection in hospitals. Based on the World Health Organization’s criteria, a perfect hand hygiene score is 100%, based on direct observation of healthcare workers. Altru’s patient care areas regularly monitor hand hygiene compliance, employing a wide variety of strategies to reach a high level of hand hygiene compliance.
Hospital Room Cleaning
The patient’s room environment can contaminate hands and become a source of infection transmission. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that hospitals strive to monitor and achieve effective cleaning of at least 80 percent of the frequently touched surfaces in the patient’s room such as bed rails, door knobs, and bathroom surfaces.
Surgical Site Infections (SSI)
Surgical Site Infections are the second most common Healthcare Associated Infection in the US. At Altru, preventing surgical site infections requires good patient preparation, especially skin preparation. The surgical environment must be very clean, instruments sterile and ventilation adequate. If indicated, antibiotic prophylaxis is given just before the surgery starts.
Standardized Infection Ratio is the actual number of surgical site infections at Altru compared with the predicted number of infections as per national baseline data. A SIR greater than 1 indicates that more surgical site infections were observed than predicted; a SIR less than 1 indicates that fewer surgical site infections were observed than predicted.
Minnesota Community Measures
Diabetes occures when there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood and not enough in the cells of your body. This can interfere with your body's ability to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Blood pressure is the force of blood against artery walls as it circulates through the body. Blood pressure rises and falls during the day. When blood pressure stays elevated over time, it is called high blood pressure. High blood pressure makes the heart work too hard.
Vascular disease is any condition that affects the heart or blood vessels (veins and arteries that transport blood through the body). Vascular disease can lead to hardening or clogging of the arteries, which can limit the heart’s ability to supply oxygen and nutrients to your body.