HHS Seeks Comments on Updated Infection Prevention Plan

The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking public comment through June 19 on an updated National Action Plan to eliminate healthcare-associated infections.

The plan includes provisions to increase the use and effectiveness of information systems “in improving the national capacity to monitor, measure and prevent the occurrence of HAIs.” Its goals include:

* Increased capabilities to exploit current and future data sources, such as computer-based detection algorithms;

* Further develop integration between I.T. systems for infection control and prevention, quality improvement and patient safety;

* Improve comprehensive and timely sharing of data for focusing prevention efforts and measuring effectiveness across all geographic levels;

* Find ways to make HAI data available for entire episodes of care, including surgical records from the hospital and surgical site infection data recorded at another facility, such as a physician office where a patient sought further treatment; and

* Take full advantage of decision support systems in electronic health records systems to provide context-sensitive HAI prevention reminders or clinical guidelines.

The draft National Action Plan is available here.