December 16, 2011

New Hospital Surgical Infection Information Available

New information informs patients and helps hospitals improve care 

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care website now contains information about the number of surgical infections in Illinois hospitals. The new report shows infections following coronary artery bypass graft and total knee replacement surgeries that occurred in Illinois hospitals between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. The surgical-site infection rate in Illinois hospitals was not significantly different from national rate. This is the first time this information has been available to the public. This information will help hospitals monitor their infection control practices and highlight areas where they can make improvements.

An estimated 290,000 surgical site infections occur every year in the U.S. with more than 8,000 associated deaths according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Surgical site infections can cause complications that lead to patients being readmitted to the hospital, resulting in an increased cost, and an increased risk of death.

The Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care website allows consumers to find information about health care-associated infections, nurse staffing, emergency room use and a host of other adult and pediatric quality and safety measures. The volume and charge for specific medical conditions and procedures can be compared across hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Access to this information can help you make a more informed decision about where to go for health care. Information is updated several times a year.

New information on the website includes:

• Coronary artery bypass graft and total knee replacement surgical-site infection data - July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011
• Percentage of hospital visits by insurance provider, private pay, charity care
• Median charge, length of stay and volume of patients for specific pediatric conditions and procedures

Updated information on the website includes:

• 2010 statewide reports on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile infections in Illinois hospitals
• Nurse staffing data
• Breast feeding data
• Volume and charges for inpatient and outpatient conditions and procedures in hospitals, as well as outpatient procedures in ambulatory surgery centers
• Emergency room visit volume and percent of time on bypass
• All Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality indicators
• Surgical Care Improvement Project measures
• Patient satisfaction

Read more about surgical-site infections in Illinois and look up the latest data on the Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care at http://www.healthcarereportcard.illinois.gov/