St. Elizabeth’s one of only five hospitals recently recognized

Boston, Massachusetts—The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has awarded St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center the Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence (CoE) designation, a recognition given to hospitals that have created stewardship programs led by infectious diseases-trained physicians and pharmacists that advance science in antimicrobial resistance. St. Elizabeth’s, a member of Steward Health Care, is one of only four programs in Boston that have received the designation since the program’s launch in 2017 and only one of five awarded in the IDSA’s most recent announcement. 

“This award is a well-deserved recognition for St. Elizabeth’s infectious disease team who have worked tirelessly to protect our community with the best use of antibiotics possible,” said Richard Freeman, MD, MHL, chief medical officer at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. “I also want to thank our pharmacy team led by our Pharmacy Director, Lindsay Arnold, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, and Salwa Elarabi, R. Ph. BCPS-AQ, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Infectious Disease, who are integral members of the team and without whom this recognition would not be possible. I’m extremely proud to say our antibiotic stewardship program is among the best in the country, and we appreciate that the IDSA has recognized their excellence. The diligent efforts and support of our pharmacy, pharmacy residents, infectious diseases team, physicians, and hospital leadership are all responsible for making this top-tier care an everyday occurrence at St. Elizabeth’s.

St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center is among only 150 hospitals in the nation to achieve this IDSA designation. Antimicrobial stewardship is a coordinated program that promotes the appropriate use of antimicrobials (including antibiotics), improves patient outcomes, reduces microbial resistance, and decreases the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.

The core criteria for the CoE program place emphasis on an institution’s ability to implement stewardship protocols by integrating best practices to slow the emergence of resistance, optimize the treatment of infections, reduce adverse events associated with antibiotic use and address other challenging areas related to antimicrobial stewardship. A panel of IDSA member experts in antimicrobial stewardship, including ID-trained physicians and ID-trained pharmacists, evaluate CoE applications against high-level criteria established by IDSA leadership for determining merit.

Additionally, St. Elizabeth achieved standards aligned with evidence-based national guidelines, such as the IDSA-Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidelines and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Core Elements.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the urgency behind efforts to improve antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals. A new CDC report recently stated that antimicrobial-resistant infections and deaths rose 15% in 2020 due to the pandemic.

About St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, a Boston University Teaching Hospital, offers patients access to some of Boston's most respected physicians and advanced treatments for a full-range of medical specialties, including family medicine, cardiovascular care, women and infants' health, cancer care, neurology care, and orthopedics. The 308-bed tertiary care facility is part of Steward Health Care.

About IDSA
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is a community of over 12,000 physicians, scientists, and public health experts who specialize in infectious diseases. Its purpose is to improve the health of individuals, communities, and society by promoting excellence in patient care, education, research, public health, and prevention relating to infectious diseases. Learn more at https://www.idsociety.org/.

About Steward Health Care
Nearly a decade ago, Steward Health Care System emerged as a different kind of health care company designed to usher in a new era of wellness. One that provides our patients better, more proactive care at a sustainable cost, our providers unrivaled coordination of care, and our communities greater prosperity and stability.

As the country’s largest physician-led, tax paying, integrated health care system, our doctors can be certain that we share their interests and those of their patients. Together we are on a mission to revolutionize the way health care is delivered - creating healthier lives, thriving communities and a better world.

Steward is among the nation’s largest and most successful accountable care organizations (ACO), with more than 5,500 providers and 43,000 health care professionals who care for 12.3 million patients a year through a closely integrated network of hospitals, multispecialty medical groups, urgent care centers, skilled nursing facilities and behavioral health centers.

Based in Dallas, Steward currently operates 39 hospitals across Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah.

For more information, visit www.steward.org.