Summary

Directs the Department of State Health Services to publish annually a report of hospital infection rates by hospital.

Background

Over two million Americans pick up a new infection during their hospital stay, and 90,000 patients die each year from hospital infections. Public disclosure allows hospitals to see how they compare to their competitors and gives them an incentive to improve and gives consumers information so they can make fully informed health care choices. /1/

Political Context

15 states have passed some type of hospital infection reporting law. In 2005, SB872 created the Advisory Panel on Health Care Associated Infections to develop recommendations for reporting hospital-acquired infection information to the public. The committee final report is available here, and recommends public disclosure of hospital infection rates.

SB 288 is the companion to this bill.

Additional Links

/1/ www.stophospitalinfections.org (a Project of Consumers Union)