Hospitals in South Carolina may not release their reports of infection rates to the public in February 2008, as promised. Though the hospitals are complying with 2006 state law that requires all hospitals in South Carolina to report preventable infections to the state, the Charleston Post and Courrier reports that public release of the statements may be delayed on account of concerns about its validity.
Several members of an advisory panel have suggested delaying the infection reports until July 2008, in order to fully validate the hospitals' reports. Currently, South Carolina hospitals use a CDC Internet system to report infections. Later this month, "the CDC is expected to release standard to validate the hospital," according to a Department of Health and Environmental Control official.
To find out more:
- read this iHealthBeat report [1]
Related articles:
PA first to report hospital-specific infection rates. Article [2]
Bill would make U.S. hospital infection rates public. Article [3]
Hospitals struggle with infection control. Study [4]
Links:
[1] http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2007/12/6/Validity-Concerns-Could-Delay-Release-of-South-Carolina-Hospital-Data.aspx?topicID=55
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/pa-first-to-report-hospital-specific-infection-rates/2006-11-16
[3] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/bill-would-make-u-s-hospital-infection-rates-public/2007-10-19
[4] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/study-hospitals-struggle-infection-control/2007-09-11