Out In The Open
The July 23rd, 2008 edition of The Sydney Morning Herald (see image above) carried a lead story about the intentions of the New South Wales Health Minister to publically release identifying healthcare associated infections (HAIs) data and rates from NSW Public hospitals. What an incredible piece of news and what far reaching implications it could have for Australian and regional infection prevention.
Many of you will be aware of efforts in the US over the past few years where various legislature has been enacted compelling states to submit and publically release their specific HAI data. You may also note that APIC through its leadership, membership and Government Affair’s experts, has continued to raise public and political awareness about HAIs and infection prevention. The APIC website details this recent history well at www.apic.org It is likely that Australian progress will be similar but not identical to our US and British infection prevention peers. However this unfolds I can’t help but recognise that Australian infection prevention is on the cusp of its most recent wave - may it be a great ride.
Below I have copied the content of a recent posting I made to our AICA E-discussion List in relation to this development. Few AICA members have commented but I am sure that each has a response to this initiative.
Since yesterday afternoon two very important infection prevention events have occured. Each will have national impact. The first is the release by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality on Health Care (ACSQHC) of their Surveillance Report. I have reproduced part of an e-mail sent by the Commission to stakeholders yesterday. I would also strongly encourage AICA members to provide comment to ACSQHC individually and collectively from your state and national perspectives. This is a critical opportunity to influence the future direction of Australian infection prevention efforts.The second event is a frontline story in today’s Sydney Morning Herald where the NSW Minister of Health has responded to the Commission’s publication by indicating that within 3 months NSW will release hospital-identifying healthcare associated infections (HAI) data. Many of you will know that NSW Health has had this information available to it for all public hospitals since January 2003. Whilst there are undoubtably methodological issues which impact the validity and reliability of the NSW data (like every other large HAI data collection system in the world) this is a monumental development.It has the potential to change the way we do business and especially to change the expectations of healthcare consumers. I have closely watched the US public reporting debate unfold since late 2004 and I suspect Australia’s path will be equally challenging. If NSW does release this data routinely every other jurisdiction will likely follow. Our profession is under the microscope well and truly.