Health Department Releases 2010 Hospital Infections Report

The Pennsylvania Department of Health recently released its third annual report on healthcare-associated infections, or HAIs, which are infections acquired while receiving medical care.

According to a state release, the 2010 report compiles data collected from Pennsylvania’s 250-plus healthcare facilities and provides an overview of trends and comparisons among hospitals, as well as between state and national rates.

Patch looked at figures for nine area hospitals and found that Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol had the lowest crude infection rate. To view the complete report, click on the attached PDF document.

“The findings in this report signify Pennsylvania's ability to maintain and improve upon quality health care for its citizens,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Eli N. Avila. “We must continue to decrease HAIs in order to provide better and more cost- effective care.”

The report includes information pertaining to HAIs, including infection types and rates of occurrence. It uses three benchmarks to determine hospital performance: catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central-line blood stream infections and surgical site infections.

This year’s data showed a 3.4 percent decrease in the overall HAI rate in Pennsylvania between 2009 and 2010.

According to a release, HAIs have received increasing attention over the years because of escalating health care costs and in recognition of their preventability. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 20 hospitalized patients will contract a HAI.

Here’s some information from the report on local hospitals:

Overall Infections and Crude Rates

One patient hospitalized for one day represents one patient day. The total patient days represents the total number of patients hospitalized at a hospital in 2010 multiplied by the total number of days each of the patients was hospitalized. The crude infection rate is presented per 1,000 patient days and is the total number of infections divided by the total patient days times 1,000.

• ABINGTON MEMORIAL, 1200 OLD YORK ROAD, ABINGTON
  162,085 patient days, 470 infections, 2.9 infections/patient days
• ARIA HEALTH, 10800 KNIGHTS ROAD, PHILADELPHIA
  131,905 patient days, 278 infections, 2.1 infections/patient days
• DOYLESTOWN HOSPITAL, 595 WEST STATE STREET, DOYLESTOWN
  51,572 patient days, 134 infections, 2.6 infections/patient days
• HOLY REDEEMER HOSPITAL, 1648 HUNTINGDON PIKE, MEADOWBROOK
  64,672 patient days, 112 infections and 1.7 infections/patient days
• HORSHAM CLINIC, 722 E BUTLER PIKE, AMBLER
  50,538 patient days, 65 infections,1.3 infections/patient days
• JEANES HOSPITAL, 7600 CENTRAL AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA
  42,199 patient days, 50 infections, 1.2 infections/patient days
• LOWER BUCKS HOSPITAL, 501 BATH ROAD, BRISTOL
  35,488 patient days, 32 infections, 0.9 infections/patient days
• NAZARETH HOSPITAL, 2601 HOLME AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA
  48,223 patient days, 139 infections, 2.9 infections/patient days
• ST. MARY MEDICAL CTR, LANGHORNE-NEWTOWN ROAD, LANGHORNE
  99,895 patient days, 203 infections and 2.0 infections/patient days