Reduction in Hospital-Acquired Infections Attributed to Quality Improvement Efforts

As per a report produced by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, Pennsylvania hospitals lowered their rates of infection by about 8 percent. The Hospital Council of Western PA, a coalition of medical facilities in the region, attributes this decrease to special programs and improved patient care quality. Spokesperson for the Hospital Council Pat Raffaelle says participation in programs such as the Institute for Health care Improvement’s “5 Million Lives” campaign and the Highmark-sponsored “Quality Blue” program has really brought hospitals to focus on infection prevention. She says public awareness also plays a role because people are now doing things like washing their hands before visiting patients. Raffaelle expects the infection rate to continue to decline in coming years and says the ultimate goal is lower the infection rate to zero.