Public calling for action on hospital infections

January 12th, 2015

In findings that may resonate with lawmakers and regulators, survey results released yesterday found that 84% of Americans polled believe reducing healthcare associated infections (HAIs) should be a top priority for hospital staff and resources.

The survey by Partnership for Quality Care (PQC) found that more than 80% of respondents believe hospitals and providers can have a significant impact on reducing death from sepsis and hospital acquired infections.

At the PQC news conference at the National Press Club, the organization highlighted examples of successful protocols that decrease the occurrence of HAIs and sepsis. Justine Carr, MD, chief medical officer of the Steward Health Care System, in Boston, Mass., described her hospital’s infection prevention program, which has reduced the prevalence of HAIs by more than 50%. When members of the public were asked in the survey about the value of these types of programs, respondents indicated a high degree of confidence that the initiatives could be replicated at their local hospitals.

PQC -- a national coalition whose members work to advance reliable and affordable access to health care for all Americans -- conducted the national survey in January 2011, to measure attitudes on American health care and hospital safety. The Benenson Strategy Group measured the opinions of 1,000 people chosen at random via a telephone survey (both landlines and cell phones were called). The margin of error for the entire data set is

± 3.10% at the 95% confidence level.