Emory University Hospital Emergency Department

Atlanta, Georgia

The emergency department leadership at Emory University Hospital collaborated with other hospital leaders, including from behavioral health, to modify its suicide screening policy. Now all patients, regardless of admission diagnosis, are screened for risk of suicide, and educational sessions were added for staff.

The 39-bed emergency department also worked to decrease the blood culture contamination rate. It implemented use of a new device, conducted a literature search for consistent evidence on site preparation for specimen collection, and completed observation and re-education as needed. Efforts resulted in a blood culture contamination rate decrease from 10 percent to 3 percent.