At ThedaCare Regional Medical Center (TCMC) – Neenah, the Emergency Department identified an opportunity to address blood culture contaminations and the associated waste from false-positive results. The considerable time invested by nurses, physicians, and patients in following up on false positives, along with the treatment expenses, served as the impetus for improvement efforts. TCMC-Neenah prioritized frontline team member engagement, standardized processes, and the addition of adjunct devices when the timing was right.

Sustained improvement and the achievement of zero contaminations were made possible through diligent follow-up and adherence to established expectations. This commitment led to consistently meeting desired outcomes and a reduction of unnecessary healthcare costs.