Procedure volume linked to SSIs in CABG, total hip patients

Editor's Note

Surgical site infection (SSI) risk for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and hip arthroplasty patients is highest in hospitals with low annual procedure volumes, yet these hospitals are excluded from quality reporting, this study finds.

Even for high-volume hospitals, year-to-year variation in SSI rates makes past performance an unreliable predictor of future performance.

These findings raise important concerns about the use of SSI data for quality reporting and reimbursement programs, the researchers conclude.

Calderwood, Michael S. MD, MPH; Kleinman, Ken ScD; Huang, Susan S. MD, MPH; Murphy, Michael V. BA; Yokoe, Deborah S. MD, MPH; Platt, Richard MD, MSc There is an assumption that public reporting of quality metrics can be used by patients to select hospitals providing higher quality care, and that financial disincentives will improve poorly performing hospitals.