Quality & Patient Safety

Infection reporting legislation fails in WA

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 1, 2006

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Patient Safety Monitor Alert!

Washington state legislation requiring hospitals to report infection data to the state failed on February 24. The state Senate failed to act on the measure before a deadline passed, according to the Olympia-based Olympian.

Hospitals fought the measure, saying it added undue paperwork that would keep workers from their primary duties. Others worried that the data would not be representative of the realities in healthcare. For example, some larger hospitals care for more at-risk patients, and may therefore have a higher rate of infections than smaller hospitals with healthier patient populations.

Proponents said the bill was necessary as hospitals for decades have failed to police themselves.

To read the complete report, click here.



Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Patient Safety Monitor Alert!

    Patient Safety Monitor
  • Patient Safety Monitor

    As part of your Patient Safety Monitor membership, you'll receive Briefings on Patient Safety. In this 12-page monthly...

  • Patient Safety Monitor Alert

    This e-mail newsletter provides healthcare professionals with the latest patient safety news, while offering useful...

  • Patient Safety Quality Monthly

    Ken Rohde, Senior Consultant for The Greeley Company with over 25 years of experience in quality management. His roles in...

  • Occurrence Reporting:

    Take advantage of the information occurrence reports provide and make sustainable enhancements at your facility. Expert...

Most Popular

Related Articles