The American Hospital Association's Health Research & Educational Trust and CDC are spearheading a three-year initiative focused on improving the implementation of infection control efforts in U.S. hospitals. The combined goal of the initiative is to strengthen infection prevention and control practices in acute care hospitals. It is specifically targeting the reduction of central line-associated blood stream infection, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, Clostridium difficile infections and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
"We welcome the opportunity to work with CDC on the important issue of infection prevention," Maulik Joshi, president of HRET and associate executive vice president of AHA, said in a statement. "This project will build on our national work that has successfully reduced CAUTI and CLABSI rates and improved patient care."
The two organizations plan to work with state hospital associations, CMS Quality Improvement Networks and state health departments to provide technical assistance for at least 300 hospitals. Additionally, HRET will coordinate with another AHA member group, the American Society for Healthcare Engineering, to develop the necessary resources for designing and redesigning hospitals with the best practices to reduce infection risk. HRET also plans to develop concise reports to guide healthcare facility design and layout for improving infection control programs.
"The healthcare environment plays a central role in infection control," said Dale Woodin, senior executive director of ASHE, said in a statement. "Providing guidance on existing and new healthcare construction will benefit all healthcare facilities and will improve care for patients."