Stephens County Hospital Recognized for Excellence in Infection Control

Stephens County Hospital Recognized for Excellence in Infection Control

Stephens County Hospital has earned national recognition from Becker’s Hospital Review for outstanding performance in preventing hospital-acquired infections, placing it among the best hospitals in the country for infection control.

This prestigious acknowledgment is based on data collected through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), a program managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC develops standardized measures to track how often patients contract certain infections while receiving medical treatment, allowing hospitals to be compared fairly based on size, patient population, and services provided.

One of the key infections tracked is Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that can occur after antibiotic use. Of the roughly 5,100 community hospitals in the United States, only 455 reported a C. diff infection rate of zero. In Georgia, just 16 hospitals achieved this distinction — and Stephens County Hospital is proudly one of them.

A community hospital is defined as a non-federal, short-term, general or specialty hospital available to the public. These hospitals play a central role in local healthcare delivery, providing essential medical services, inpatient care, and emergency treatment to surrounding communities.

With 181 hospitals in Georgia, this places Stephens County Hospital in the top 8.8% statewide for C. diff infection prevention — performing better than at least 91% of hospitals in Georgia in keeping patients safe from this dangerous infection.

“This honor reflects the exceptional teamwork and vigilance of our clinical staff,” said Van Loskoski, CEO of Stephens County Hospital. “We take great pride in delivering safe, high-quality care to every patient, every day. Achievements like this show that our focus on infection prevention is making a meaningful difference.”

Stephens County Hospital attributes much of this success to a culture of safety and a team-wide commitment to continuous improvement.

“This recognition highlights the exceptional efforts of our clinical teams and the culture of safety we’ve built at Stephens County Hospital,” added Joley Strickland, Director of PR and Marketing. “It’s a reflection of our continuous commitment to putting patients first and delivering the highest standard of care every single day.”

Special recognition goes to Beth Glover, Infection Control Manager, whose leadership and diligence have played a critical role in achieving this outstanding milestone. Her commitment to best practices, staff training, and constant monitoring has been instrumental in maintaining the hospital’s infection-free record.

Stephens County Hospital continues to strive for the highest standards in healthcare quality, and this national recognition underscores its leadership in infection prevention.