The main focus of the Harrington Infection Control Department is the prevention, management, and control of communicable diseases.
Through a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians and nursing staff, we work together to reduce the risk of acquiring and transmitting infections. We do this through a variety of methods, including the application of national guidelines and standards of care as identified by health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control, as well as the development and implementation of best practices unique to our patient population and community.
Hospitalized patients are a major concern for infection control nationwide, and the prevention of nosocomial infection (infection that is acquired inside the hospital) is the top priority. The majority Harrington’s nosocomial infection rates are consistently better than or equal to national averages.
Our onsite laboratory provides access to state-of-the-art testing, including microbiological cultures, biochemical, and molecular tests. This information provides critical and prompt answers clinicians rely on to accurately diagnose and treat infections.
The majority of common and rare infections can be treated at Harrington, either in the outpatient setting, the Emergency Department, or as inpatient admitted to one of our floors.
Infections treated at Harrington include:
Harrington also manages one of the state’s Department of Public Health regional Tuberculosis clinics, so patients with this type of infection do not need to travel a long distance for diagnosis and treatment.
Our hospital’s medical staff works closely with our referral tertiary care centers. We routinely refer or transfer patients to these larger facilities, usually after an initial evaluation determines that the resources of a tertiary care facility are best for the patient.
In addition, Harrington provides thousands of vaccinations each year to patients and staff. Vaccination is one of the safest and best ways to prevent infection.
© 2024 UMass Memorial Health
