Patient Safety
Financial penalties caused hospitals to target certain infections, but shift focus from others
A 2008 federal regulation that denied payments to hospitals if patients contracted certain infections while under their care bolstered attention to preventing those problems, but also shifted focus and resources away from halting other infections, a new study finds. The study, based on a survey of infection specialists at 317 US hospitals, found that 81 percent reported increased attention to preventing two specific infections targeted by federal regulators: catheter-associated urinary tract infections and central line-associated bloodstream infections.
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White Coat Notes covers the latest from the health care industry, hospitals, doctors offices, labs, insurers, and the corridors of government. Chelsea Conaboy previously covered health care for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Write her at cconaboy@boston.com. Follow her on Twitter: @cconaboy. |
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