Infection Control

How Memorial Regional Medical Center Cut ICU HAIs by 43%

Acute Care Hospital — ICUNashville, TN420 bedsResults over 12 months

Memorial Regional Medical Center's 48-bed ICU was experiencing a HAI rate of 4.2 per 1,000 patient-days, significantly above the national benchmark of 2.8. Traditional CHG wipe protocols were inconsistently applied, and nursing staff reported difficulty achieving adequate skin coverage for immobile patients. The facility faced potential CMS penalties and was seeking a sustainable, evidence-based solution.

Results at a Glance

HAI Rate (per 1,000 pt-days)
4.22.4
43% down
Annual HAI-Related Costs
$1.8M$1.02M
$780K saved
Nursing Injury Reports
18/yr6/yr
67% down
Patient Satisfaction (HCAHPS)
72%89%
+17 pts

The Challenge

Memorial Regional Medical Center's 48-bed ICU was experiencing a HAI rate of 4.2 per 1,000 patient-days, significantly above the national benchmark of 2.8. Traditional CHG wipe protocols were inconsistently applied, and nursing staff reported difficulty achieving adequate skin coverage for immobile patients. The facility faced potential CMS penalties and was seeking a sustainable, evidence-based solution.

The Solution

The infection control team piloted the Bed Shower Wib system in the ICU, replacing CHG wipe baths with full-body in-bed showering using 4% CHG solution. The Wib's closed-loop water system ensured complete skin coverage and consistent CHG concentration, while the integrated drainage eliminated cross-contamination risk.

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Implementation Process

1

Conducted a 30-day pilot in 12 ICU beds with volunteer nursing staff and infection control oversight.

2

Trained 48 ICU nurses and 12 nursing assistants on Wib operation, CHG protocol, and documentation.

3

Integrated Wib bathing into the daily care bundle alongside oral care and head-of-bed elevation.

4

Tracked HAI rates, nursing injury reports, and patient satisfaction scores monthly for 12 months.

5

Expanded to all 48 ICU beds after 90-day pilot results showed 31% HAI reduction.

"We saw the HAI numbers drop within the first quarter. The Wib gave our nurses a standardized, reproducible protocol that wipes simply cannot match. It is now a permanent part of our ICU infection control program."
Dr. Rachel Simmons, MD
Infection Control Medical Director, Memorial Regional Medical Center

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Key Outcomes

43% reduction in ICU HAI rate, from 4.2 to 2.4 per 1,000 patient-days

$780,000 in annual HAI-related cost savings (treatment, extended LOS, penalties)

67% reduction in nursing musculoskeletal injury reports related to patient bathing

17-point improvement in HCAHPS patient satisfaction cleanliness scores

Zero C. auris transmission events in the 12 months following full implementation

Protocol adopted as standard of care across all ICU and step-down units

Free Download

Full Case Study PDF — How Memorial Regional Medical Center Cut ICU HAIs by 43%

Formatted for sharing with your infection control committee, CNO, or CFO. Includes all metrics, protocol details, and implementation timeline.

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