The study was conducted to gather information about the challenges, successes and lessons learned from states that have been publicly reporting healthcare-associated infections. NCSL’s aim in publishing the data is to improve policy decision making in regards to public reporting of HAIs.
Many common themes, challenges and successes were gleaned from interviews with states reporting HAIs, including the following:
• Difficulty in developing meaningful and effective reporting initiatives
• Advantages of incrementally phasing in reporting requirements
• Benefits of establishing a multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder advisory committee to help develop the reporting program (an approach that enables policymakers to build on their state’s unique circumstances and existing quality improvement activities)
• The importance of providing enough funding to carry out reporting initiatives
• The significance of recent federal guidance and funding to ensure that stakeholder support and financial resources are available to implement reporting laws.
Read the NCSL report on the HAI public reporting study (pdf).
Read other coverage about HAIs:
– New Mexico to Join Other States in Publicly Reporting Infections
– Oregon Releases Data on Hospital-Acquired Infection Rates
– APIC Selected to Lead Pennsylvania Infection Prevention Programs
