Quality & Patient Safety

Large academic health systems not necessarily better at HAI prevention

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 8, 2011

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Consumer Reports recently studied 61 health systems with at least five hospitals that publicly report data on healthcare-associated infections (HAI). The study focused on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in the ICU. Data came from 18 states that report infection rates or data from The Leapfrog Group.

Researchers concluded that a well-known name does not guarantee low infection rates, giving the example of the Cleveland Clinic, which ranked worse than the national average for CLABSIs (both the flagship hospital in Cleveland as well as system in its entirety). Researchers also found that while many large health systems had rates similar to the national average, some individual hospitals within those systems had unusually high rates.

The study also found that although infection reporting is on the rise, about three-quarters of all hospitals don’t provide enough information, according to Consumer Reports.

Source: Consumer Reports



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