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Missouri consumers can access hospital infection rates in 2006

Infection Control Monitor, July 23, 2004

State health records show that more than 1,000 Missouri residents contract a serious infection while hospitalized, resulting in at least 200 deaths annually.

Although Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Florida have similar laws, Missouri may be ahead of them in terms of putting the system in place-even becoming a national model.

The law, which went into effect last month, requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to collect and file infection rates with the state. Beginning in December 2006, consumers can access the data from a state-operated Web site.

Comparisons of hospital infection rates can be made on a local, statewide, and national basis. The infection data will also be broken by categories, including hip replacements and heart surgeries.

The state has until July 1, 2005, to develop regulations governing the types of infections tracked and how the information will be collected and analyzed.

For a summary of the state law, go to the Missouri Hospital Association's Web site http://www.mhanet.com.

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