Panel to Help with Implementation of Hospital-Acquired Infection Law
A panel of infection control experts—including several members of the Pennsylvania Medical Society—was appointed to help implement a new law requiring hospitals and nursing homes to report infections.
Act 52 of 2007 is aimed at reducing hospital-acquired infections and was signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell in July. The act mandates that hospitals and nursing homes make monthly infection reports to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This data will be accessible to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority.
In addition to reporting requirements, the act requires that hospitals, nursing homes, and ambulatory surgical facilities develop infection-control plans and that insurance companies pay for routine cultures and infection screenings that are part of the facility’s plan.
The 13-member panel, which will hold its first meeting in October 2007, was appointed by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority’s Board of Directors. Its job will be to provide advice and guidance to the Patient Safety Authority and other state agencies regarding implementation of Act 52.
Pennsylvania Medical Society members Erick J. Bergquist, MD, PhD; Daniel Haimowitz, MD, FACP, CMD; and Carlene A. Muto, MD, MS, were appointed to the panel. Dr. Bergquist is the medical director for epidemiology at Indiana Regional Medical Center. Dr. Haimowitz is the medical director of geriatric program at Attleboro Retirement Campus. Dr. Muto is the medical director of the department of hospital epidemiology and infection control at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. For the complete list of members, see the Patient Safety Authority’s press release on the panel.
The authority also gave tentative implementation dates for hospitals and nursing homes. Hospitals likely will be reporting infection data by spring 2008, with nursing homes following in the summer.
Last Updated: 10/2/2007