AHRQ picks participants for quality initiative

The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has named 10 state hospital associations and three patient-safety groups to participate in a national infection-control initiative.

The three-year initiative is aimed at cutting down on central-line-association bloodstream infections in intensive care units, a frequent and costly problem hospitals nationwide struggle to address. The group will attempt to lower the rate of central-line infections by 80 percent, from the current national average of five infections per 1,000 catheter days to one per 1,000 catheter days.

Hospital associations taking part in California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. Patient safety organizations participating, meanwhile, including the California Hospital Patient Safety Organization, North Carolina Center for Hospital Quality and Ohio Patient Safety Institute.

To learn more about this effort:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)