At Kaiser Permanente San Jose, our dedication to patient safety is demonstrated through significant progress in reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). These infections, which can occur when a urinary catheter is left in place longer than needed or isn’t properly cared for, pose serious health risks – especially for vulnerable patients. Through collaboration between our quality and safety teams, nurses, and managers, we have adopted evidence-based practices that emphasize the timely removal of unnecessary indwelling Foley catheters and meticulous catheter care.

Central to this achievement is our strict adherence to bundles, a set of proven, standardized steps that guide clinicians in infection prevention. These bundles include practices like daily assessments of catheter necessity, maintaining sterile techniques during insertion, and ensuring proper hygiene and maintenance. Consistently following these protocols has led to lower infection rates, improved patient comfort, shorter hospital stays, and faster recoveries. This accomplishment highlights our unwavering commitment to providing safe, high-quality care to every patient, every time.