Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care

Implementation of an Antibiotic Stewardship Program across a Large-scale Urgent Care Network

About Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care’s program

Antibiotic stewardship programs aim to measure and improve how antibiotics are prescribed by clinicians and used by patients; these programs have been demonstrated to improve patient outcomes, reduce the overall burden of antibiotic resistance and save healthcare dollars.

Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care implemented its ASP in 2019. In the year after implementing the program, the network reduced its total antibiotic usage by 21%; this equated to approximately 167,000 fewer antibiotic prescriptions. Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care’s 52 urgent care centers reduced inappropriate antibiotic use by 16%, protecting the public from growing antimicrobial resistance, adverse effects and unnecessary medical costs — all while maintaining consistent patient satisfaction.

About the award

The Pinnacle Award for Quality and Patient Safety recognizes initiatives that improve the quality of healthcare delivery in New York.