As a new member of the QSRG team, Kathleen Speck brings with her nine years of research management experience working with the Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control at Johns Hopkins Hospital. During her time there, she worked on many safety related research projects including: a multicenter project using a bundle of interventions to reduce CLABSI in the ICUs, three multicenter projects comparing regular daily bathing versus daily bathing with chlorhexidine gluconate for a reduction in rates of bloodstream infections and the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms in the ICU (medical, surgical and pediatric), a multicenter intervention to reduce the inappropriate use of antimicrobials using direct phone calls to providers, and an intervention with environmental services using a novel cleaning and disinfecting product and cleaning technique.

At QSRG, Ms. Speck will be working with the CSTS team on a multicenter project evaluating the impact of a patient safety program on CLABSI, SSI and VAP rates in patients receiving cardiac surgery by introducing a culture of safety program and specific, bundled processes for patient care in the OR, ICU and the discharging units.

She will also be working on a multicenter project developing a bundle of evidence-based interventions designed to reduce the rates of VAP in ICUs. This bundle, used with the culture of safety program, will be evaluated at many facilities across the US.