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How does this Initiative work?

Apply: Applicants assemble a multidisciplinary team and complete an online application describing their institutional goals for participating in the antimicrobial stewardship initiative.

Selected Sites: The team leader from each of the selected health systems is required to complete a pre-visit survey, including information about their facility's current Antimicrobial Stewardship program (ASP) and submit a draft plan to improve and/or expand antimicrobial stewardship activities. This information is critical to a successful onsite visit.

Faculty Mentoring: The Faculty Mentor will work with the team leader and other members of the ASP quality improvement team by phone in advance of and following the onsite visit. The onsite visit will feature an in-depth evaluation of the facility's antimicrobial stewardship program, practices, challenges and opportunities for improvement, and proposed activities to enhance patient care. In addition, a 1-hour multiaccredited CE presentation on antimicrobial stewardship will be conducted onsite. Specific activities that will occur during the visit will vary according to participant goals and needs, but may include meeting with your ASP team and other QI leaders, as well as reviewing protocols and policies and procedures. Following the site visits, the Faculty Mentor will provide a custom recommendation report of proposed interventions to improve your ASP.

Report Outcomes: Following the visit, participants will implement their antimicrobial stewardship improvement project and report changes in the utilization of antimicrobials and other key outcomes approximately 6 months after the onsite visit.

Faculty Mentors

Important Dates for 2011 Applicants

July 12, 2011
Application deadline

August 8, 2011
Participants selected (5 sites maximum)

September - November 2011
Onsite visits conducted

Spring 2012
Participants report outcomes

2011 Participating Health Systems

Inova Alexandria Hospital
Alexandria, Virginia

Interim LSU Public Hospital
New Orleans, Louisiana

St. Mary's Hospital
Madison, Wisconsin

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas

The Christ Hospital
Cincinnati, Ohio

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the Institutional Impact Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Mentored Initiative developed?
The Institutional Impact Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Mentored Quality Initiative was developed to help practitioners facilitate improvement in antimicrobial use in health systems. While a wealth of published data and guidelines are available, the challenge is often putting into action what health care providers know needs to be done. This initiative is designed to provide practitioners with support toward improving their institution's antimicrobial stewardship practices through a team-based approach.

Why does this initiative emphasize a team-based approach to Antimicrobial Stewardship?
Antimicrobial stewardship is a system-wide issue, and it doesn't affect a single type of health care provider. In order or ASPs to be effective, the entire team, including health system leadership must support these activities. This initiative recognizes that in order to be a part of a new system, everyone needs to come together to develop the system.

Who should apply?
The team that applies may be led by either a pharmacist or physician. The critical element is that the applicant's health system is motivated to make change – to improve antimicrobial stewardship in the health system.

Who should be included on the Institutional Impact Team?
A variety of disciplines can be a part of the Institutional Impact Team. The team may include both frontline providers and managers from all disciplines, including pharmacists, physicians, and nurses. Ideally, the team members will contribute a variety of knowledge and experience about patient care, quality improvement, antimicrobial stewardship projects, etc.

What is the role of the Team Leader?
The Team Leader is the primary contact for the ASHP Advantage Mentors before, during, and after the Institutional Impact visit. All correspondence will be sent to the Team Leader. The Team Leader is responsible for working with ASHP Advantage staff to coordinate all aspects of the Mentors' onsite visit.

Why do I need to submit a signed "Applicant Agreement"?
In addition to the online application, a signed Applicant Agreement is required to complete the application process. The Application Agreement is necessary to demonstrate the health-system's desire to participate in this initiative. The Selection Panel wants to know that health-system leadership supports the planned ASP improvement initiative so that the Faculty Mentor onsite visits will be productive.

Why do I need to submit a project plan as a part of this application?
The Selection Panel seeks to know the applicant's goals for improvement and how the applicant's team plans to approach it. As a part of the Mentored ASP Initiative, the Faculty Mentors can assist participants, if needed, in refining the project plan prior to implementation.

How many sites will be selected?
Funding is available to support up to 5 participating sites in the Institutional Impact Antimicrobial Stewardship Mentored Initiative.

Who are the Faculty Mentors?
The faculty mentors have expertise in antimicrobial stewardship and quality improvement tactics.

Craig Martin, Pharm.D., BCPS
Pharmacist Specialist, Infectious Diseases
Associate Professor
University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
University of Kentucky Health Care
Lexington, Kentucky

Debra A. Goff, Pharm.D., FCCP
Associate Professor
Ohio State University Medical Center
College of Pharmacy
Columbus, Ohio

What is the cost for participating?
There is no fee for applying or participating in the Institutional Impact Antimicrobial Stewardship Mentored Initiative. ASHP Advantage will coordinate all aspects of the Faculty Mentors' travel at no expense to the participating health-systems.

How is the initiative supported?
The Institutional Impact Antimicrobial Stewardship Mentored Initiative is planned by an educational steering committee comprised of pharmacists and a physician (See Faculty) and coordinated by ASHP Advantage. The initiative is supported by educational grants from Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Pfizer, Inc.

What are the responsibilities of participants in the Institutional Impact Antimicrobial Stewardship Mentored Initiative?

Mentor responsibilities

• Conduct teleconference with Team Leader in advance of the onsite visit.
• Review site's materials (including pre-visit survey, Antimicrobial Stewardship project plan, existing institutional protocols and policy and procedure documents) in advance of onsite visit.
• Travel to site for one-day mentoring visit.
• Conduct a 1-hour educational presentation on antimicrobial stewardship at the health system accredited for pharmacists, physicians, and nurses.
• After the onsite visit, provide a custom recommendation report of proposed interventions.
• Conduct teleconference with Team Leader after the onsite visit.

Institutional Impact Team responsibilities

• Coordinate the Mentors' onsite visit itinerary with ASHP Advantage staff.
• Provide materials to ASHP Advantage in preparation of onsite visit, including (1) pre-visit survey, (2) comprehensive (draft) plan for Antimicrobial Stewardship improvement project, and (3) existing institutional protocols and policy & procedure documents related to antimicrobial stewardship.
• Implement an ASP improvement project within 60 days of the onsite visit.
• Measure and report baseline and outcome data for the follow up improvement project.

Who do I contact with questions?
Contact ASHP Advantage at kcackowski@ashpadvantage.com.