Congress puts heat on states to prevent HAIs
June 1, 2008 2 minutes read
Congress puts heat on states to prevent HAIs
Michigan program fast-tracked for adoption
State hospital associations throughout the nation should be in receipt of a May 6, 2008, letter from U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, asking what they are doing to prevent health care-associated infections (HAIs).
Specifically, Waxman advised the states about the highly successful program to prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections developed at Johns Hopkins Hospital and widely implemented in Michigan. "[T]his effort saved approximately 1,800 lives and $180 million," Waxman wrote. ". . . The Michigan Hospital Association program indicates that even in the absence of federal leadership, efforts by state hospital associations can lead to a reduction in health care spending and lives saved. The infrastructure and successful collaborations created by such an effort can be helpful in any national effort to address HAIs.
Waxman asked the state hospital associations for the following information:
- If known, what are the median and overall rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in the intensive care units in hospitals in your state, using standard definitions of provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the purpose of the National Healthcare Safety Network?
- If the rates are unknown or if the median rate is above zero, do you have plans to replicate the Michigan Hospital Association program in your state? If so, when do you anticipate initiating the program?
- What other activities are your member hospitals taking to address health care-associated infections? Which infections are you targeting? What is your evidence of success?
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