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Riverside Medical Center has been awarded Gold Tier status by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for its efforts in antimicrobial stewardship. The hospital is the only one in its region to receive this recognition, which highlights its commitment to improving patient outcomes through the appropriate use of antimicrobial medications.
Antimicrobial stewardship programs are designed to ensure that antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals are used correctly—choosing the right drug, at the correct dose, and for the proper duration. These practices help improve patient results and combat antimicrobial resistance.
Riverside Healthcare President and CEO Phil Kambic stated, “As an acute care hospital, we take antimicrobial stewardship extremely seriously. We’re proud to see our hospital and our exceptional pharmacy team recognized at the state level.”
The Gold Tier status was given to Riverside Medical Center for meeting all key priorities set by IDPH. These include leadership involvement, accountability measures, expert pharmaceutical oversight, tracking and reporting systems, as well as education for both healthcare providers and patients. Less than 20% of hospitals in Illinois have implemented all six Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) priorities required for this level of recognition.
When notifying Riverside Medical Center about the honor, IDPH said, “We recognize the effort it takes to build and maintain such programs, and we commend your continued dedication.” More information on the IDPH Acute Care Honor Roll can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/antibiotic-resistance/honor-roll.html.
Dr. Stonewall McCuiston, Chief Medical Officer at Riverside Healthcare, commented on the award: "Enhancing patient outcomes is central to everything we do. Through continuous education, our care teams consistently deliver top-tier antimicrobial stewardship."
