ROSWELL, Ga., June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Kimberly-Clark Health Care today announced the recipients of the second annual HAI WATCHDOG Awards, created to recognize the efforts of dedicated healthcare professionals working together to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The awards program, an initiative of the HAI WATCHDOG Community, facilitates the sharing of best practices among clinicians and recognizes four exceptional participants with an educational grant.

"This year we expanded the reach and recognition of the WATCHDOG Awards by creating independent awards programs in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and once again the response and quality of submissions exceeded our expectations," said Joanne Bauer, president, Kimberly-Clark Health Care. "The entries address a variety of issues that healthcare facilities encounter, and we hope that by sharing these proven best practices on haiwatchdog.com, healthcare providers feel empowered to share and learn from each other, andcontinue to challenge themselves to strive for and maintain the highest levels of infection control."

The 2011 WATCHDOG Award winners, judged by a panel of infection prevention healthcare professionals, demonstrated measureable results in the area of infection control and addressed a range of issues including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The Clinician's Choice category recognizes education and awareness programs with non-measureable results and the winner was selected by online public voting of fellow healthcare professionals.

"I was thoroughly impressed with the winners this year. There was a real change in culture and attitude and that's ultimately what made the programs so successful," said Dr. William Jarvis, former Director of the Office of Extramural Research at the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases. "It is my hope that other healthcare professionals learn from these innovative HAI prevention and reduction strategies and are motivated to take action within their own facilities."

2011 Award Recipients

Panel Judged Entries

Fewer than 300 beds:

More than 300 beds:

Healthcare System:

Clinician's Choice:

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Kimberly-Clark Health Care's 2011 HAI WATCHDOG Awards Recognize Champions In The Fight Against Healthcare-Associated ...