Ventilator Associated Pneumonias (VAPs)
UNMH's goal is to reduce and eliminate healthcare associated pneumonias in people on mechanical ventilators.
Some hospitalized patients are placed on a machine, called a ventilator, to help them breathe. When a patient is using a ventilator to help with breathing, they have an increased risk of acquiring an infection known as ventilator-associated pneumonia. In 2006, the health system began a monitoring process to decrease these infections. The facilities within the health system have demonstrated excellence in this area.