Researchers conducted a national survey of infection preventionists from a random sample of US hospitals in December 2010. Here are key findings from that survey:
• Eighty-one percent reported paying increased attention to targeted healthcare-associated infections under the CMS policy.
• One-third reported paying less attention to non-targeted infections under the CMS policy.
• Seventy-seven percent of respondents saw stable funding for infection control.
• Many respondents reported faster removal of urinary (71 percent) and central venous (50 percent) catheters.
• Resource shifting occurred more frequently in large hospitals.
Researchers concluded the CMS payment policy has led to practice changes for targeted healthcare-associated infections, though the impact of the increased focus on actual outcomes has yet to be determined.
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