Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are among the most serious of all health care-associated infections, resulting in thousands of deaths each year and nearly $700 million in added costs to the US health care system. Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Hospital Compare will now include data about how often these preventable infections occur in hospital intensive care units across the country. This step will hold hospitals accountable for bringing down these rates.
“Including central line-associated bloodstream infections information on Hospital Compare will save lives and cut costs,” said acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. “Adding this information to Hospital Compare extends the Administration’s commitment to make American health care safer.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in 2009, there were about 41,000 CLABSIs in US hospitals. Studies show that up to 25% of patients who get a CLABSI will die from the infection. Caring for a patient with a CLABSI adds about $17,000 to a hospitalization. These infections prolong hospitalizations and can cause death.
Hospital Compare is one of Medicare’s most popular Web tools. The site receives about 1 million page views each month and is available in English and in Spanish. More information about Hospital Compare is online here.
Source: CMS
