How will additional reporting of healthcare associated infections be of benefit?  Since July 2008 all hospitals in Virginia have been reporting intensive care-central line bloodstream infections(CLABSIs).   Healthcare facilities have either determined or are determining how to implement evidence based practices to eliminate/reduce CLABSIs.  What is the purpose of additional reporting (one adult inpatient medical ward and one adult inpatient surgical ward)?  If  healthcare facilities are having challenges eliminating/reducing intensive care CLABSIs, they are probably having similar CLABSI challenges on their Med/Surg units.  What does additional reporting offer the healthcare facility other than additional work tasks reporting to the CDC/NHSN.  Additional CLABSI reporting is not going to eliminate CLABSIs, assist the challenged healthcare facility with implementing CLABSI evidence based practices. 

Laboratory identified C.difficile infection event reporting-most healthcare facilities are in the planning stages of either developing or implementing an Antibiotic Stewardship Program.  Recommend assistance from the State level (funds allocated for healthcare associated infection reductions) with this type of program.  -Assisting healthcare facilities with this initiative prior to mandating reporting of C.difficile infections  will be of benefit to both the patient and the healthcare facility.

SCIP Core Measures are currently being reported to other agencies, can the State access this data?  Healthcare facilities providing hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty and CABGs to high risk patients will be penalized by these reporting mandates.  Again, additional reporting does not eliminate/reduce healthcare associated infections.  Developing and implementing evidence based practices to eliminate and/or reduce healthcare associated infections is time well spent!

I recommend that the proposed amendments be reviewed, revised to include only one other defined reporting area and eliminate the other areas or vote against the entire proposed reporting changes.

Thank  you.