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Avoid reimbursement, accreditation concerns by preventing catheter-associated infections

Nurse Leader Weekly, May 16, 2008

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Preventing catheter-associated infections is becoming more than just a patient safety issue now that it is associated with reimbursement and, potentially, accreditation decisions.

In October, under new Medicare regulations, hospitals will no longer receive higher payments for the additional costs associated with treating patients for preventable C-BSIs.Heathcare organizations can take some simple steps to prevent such infections:

Teach nurses to monitor compliance. It's not enough to instruct people on compliance; somebody has to be in charge of ensuring the job gets done.

Ensure that staff members have the proper supplies. Create central-line carts that include two sets of all the supplies physicians need to put in a line. The duplicate set is necessary in the event that sterile technique is broken and the practitioner must start over.

Feedback is critical. It's important to report information to staff members in a timely manner. Create posters that show unit-specific rates and hang them in the patient care unit staff room. Remember, data have to be unit-specific to have an effect.

Editor's Note: This excerpt was adapted from the article, Avoid reimbursement, accreditation concerns by preventing catheter-associated infections featured in the Reading Room on HCPro's new online resource center, www.StrategiesForNurseManagers.com. Get a free trial membership that will give you 30 days to "test drive" all the exciting features on the Web site.

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