(Madera, Calif.) - Valley Children’s has joined the national network of elite institutions designated by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence (AS CoE). This designation is granted to hospitals with the highest quality standards for fostering a stewardship program which protects patients from dangerous and unintended consequences to antimicrobial medications without reducing the quality of patient care.
“We are honored to be recognized for our stewardship principles implemented by the antibiotic stewardship team,” says Dr. David Christensen, Valley Children’s Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Physician Executive. “Becoming a designated Center of Excellence reinforces us as a trusted resource and validates our commitment to the quality and safety of patient care.”
Antimicrobial medicines -- such as antibiotics, antivirals or antifungals -- are used to treat infections with bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. Side effects such as antibiotic resistance are a global threat. Patients depend on clinicians to administer a proper dosage in a timely fashion and over an appropriate amount of time.
Committed to maximizing patient care, the antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) at Valley Children’s is led by infectious diseases (ID) physicians and ID-trained pharmacists who have been working for more than seven years on the close monitoring of patients who are in use of antimicrobial medicines. Through specialized assessment, our ASP team is able to determine and recommend the use of a more targeted medication for isolated instances specific to a patient’s need. Doing this helps reduce potential side effects, such as immunity or resistance from the drug. As part of their stewardship principles, the ASP team has implemented continual staff education and innovative technologies to continue to reduce and avoid the use of unnecessary antimicrobial medications.
IDSA established the AS CoE program in 2017 and has awarded only 41 institutions this prestigious designation. Valley Children’s is honored to be part of a network of industry stewards who champion behind the shared goal of providing patients with the best care.