FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 30, 2020

Saratoga Hospital Named Center of Excellence for Antimicrobial Stewardship

First in the region to earn this national recognition 
 

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., Dec. 30, 2020—Saratoga Hospital has been designated a Center of Excellence for Antimicrobial Stewardship in recognition of its best practices in prescribing antimicrobials and fighting drug resistance. 

Saratoga Hospital is the first in the region—and one of 109 organizations nationwide—to earn this designation from the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Others on the list include Mayo Clinic Hospital-Rochester in Minnesota, Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and New York Presbyterian Hospital – The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell in New York City.

Antimicrobials are drugs—including antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals—that are used to prevent and treat infections. Because they can speed healing and save lives, these drugs have transformed the practice of medicine. However, they can have unwanted side effects and, if overprescribed, can help create drug-resistant infections.

The IDSA Center of Excellence program recognizes institutions whose antimicrobial stewardship programs are aligned with evidence-based national guidelines and are led by highly qualified infectious disease physicians and infectious disease-trained pharmacists.

“Our Center of Excellence designation underscores our commitment to help protect individual patients and the general public through consistent, effective antimicrobial stewardship,” said Dr. Brian McDermott of Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Infectious Disease. “By making sure medications are prescribed only when appropriate, we are reducing the likelihood of patient harm and helping prevent drug resistance, which is a major public health threat.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year at least 2.8 million people in the U.S. get an antibiotic-resistant infection. Of those, more than 35,000 die.

The Center of Excellence designation is the hospital’s second recognition in less than two months for antimicrobial stewardship-related efforts. In October, the Healthcare Association of New York State presented Saratoga Hospital with the 2020 Pinnacle Award for Quality and Patient Safety for an innovative approach to diagnosing and treating a bacterial infection that’s resistant to many antibiotics. 

In one year, the approach resulted in a considerable decline in Clostridioides difficile infection and a 66% decrease in the number of patients requiring treatment. By reducing unnecessary antibiotic treatment, the hospital is enhancing patient care and helping prevent an increase in drug-resistant bacteria.

LOGO CAPTION: IDSA developed the Antimicrobial Stewardship Centers of Excellence Program to promote excellence in optimizing antimicrobial use and combating antimicrobial resistance by identifying institutions that effectively demonstrate these activities.  The IDSA AS Centers of Excellence program aligns with evidence-based national guidelines such as the IDSA-SHEA guidelines and CDC’s Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs.
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About Saratoga Hospital: Saratoga Hospital is the Saratoga region’s leading healthcare provider and the only acute-care facility in Saratoga County. The hospital’s multispecialty practice, Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, provides care at more than 20 locations, ensuring easy access to programs and services that can have the greatest impact on individual and community health. Saratoga Hospital has maintained Magnet designation for nursing excellence since 2004. The hospital is an affiliate of the Albany Med Health System, which also includes Albany Med, Columbia Memorial Health and Glens Falls Hospital. The region’s largest locally governed health system, it has 1,520 beds, more than 800 physicians and 125 outpatient locations. For more information: www.saratogahospital.org or www.facebook.com/SaratogaHospital.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter M. Hopper
Director, Marketing and Communications
518-583-8679
phopper@saratogahospital.org