Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Medical Errors & Patient Safety Update

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Medical Errors & Patient Safety Update
New Study Finds Lapses in Infection Control Practices at Ambulatory Surgical Centers
Two-thirds of a sample of ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) in three states had infection control lapses identified during routine inspections, according to a study funded by CDC and CMS and published in the June 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. In a statement on the study, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that ensuring the safety of all patients in all health care settings is a top priority for HHS and noted that HHS has committed $50 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to help states fight health care-associated infections (HAIs). “This is concerning, because when lapses in infection control occur, in any health care setting, it puts patients at risk," Secretary Sebelius said of the study findings. "However, the good news is that we have seen progress in the reduction of HAIs in the hospital setting," she added. Select to access the HHS statement. Of the ARRA funding, $10 million went to states to improve the process and increase the frequency of inspections for ASCs. AHRQ is contributing to the reduction of infections in ASCs by investing in research projects to better understand the factors that lead to HAIs in such settings. Select to access information on AHRQ's HAI projects.

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Health Care-Associated Infections