Can HAI data be useful in differentiating US hospitals?

Editor's Note

There are enough healthcare-associated infection (HAI) data reported on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare website to meet minimal criteria for useful hospital comparisons in many geographic areas; however, it varies by type of HAI, this study finds.

The analysis included data from 4,561 hospitals, representing 88% of community and federal hospitals.

Data on Clostridium difficile infections were available from 82% of geographic regions; whereas, only 4% of geographic regions reported surgical site infections after hysterectomies.

HAI data are only useful for comparing hospitals if they are available for multiple hospitals within a geographic region, the authors say.

Can National Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) Data Differentiate Hospitals in the United States? - Volume 38 Issue 10 - Max Masnick, Daniel J. Morgan, John D. Sorkin, Mark D. Macek, Jessica P. Brown, Penny Rheingans, Anthony D. Harris