CDC, HRET Join Forces to Protect Patients

CHICAGO, Ill. –The Health Research & Educational Trust of the American Hospital Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are launching a three-year initiative to improve the implementation of infection prevention and control efforts in U.S. hospitals. The goal is to strengthen infection control practices in targeted acute care hospitals and to specifically reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, Clostridium difficile infections and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

The project will be completed in close partnership with state hospital associations, state health departments and the CMS Quality Improvement Networks – Quality Improvement Organizations that will facilitate and provide technical assistance to at least 300 targeted hospitals.

In addition, HRET will work closely with the American Society for Healthcare Engineering to develop resources to help design and redesign hospitals in ways that reduce infection risks to patients and staff. Other project partners include the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Michigan Health & Hospital Association Keystone Center, Health Insight QIN and Society of Hospital Medicine.

“The health care environment plays a central role in infection control,” said Dale Woodin, senior executive director of ASHE. “Providing guidance on existing and new health care construction will benefit all health care facilities and will improve care for patients.”

HRET will offer technical assistance to hospitals, in part, by developing concise reports that provide guidance on healthcare facility design and layout for improving infection control. HRET will accelerate current strategies for achieving reductions in infections among all groups by building on the tools and resources of the project partners, CDC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, combining the shared goals of improved patient safety.

For more information, visit www.hret.org.