News in brief - Oct. 24, 2011

Pennsylvania hospitals reduce infections

Pennsylvania hospital infection rates fell 3.4% in 2010, according to a state Health Department report released in October. The report found a decline of 13.2% in catheter-related urinary tract infections and 24.4% in central line-associated bloodstream infections. Surgical-site infections also fell, though by a lower rate of 1.4% (www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1203747/2010haireport_pdf).

More than 250 Pennsylvania hospitals submitted data, recording a total of 23,601 health care-associated infections in nearly 10.3 million patient days, for an overall infection rate of 2.29 per 1,000 patient days. The overall infection control improvement from 2009 to 2010 prevented 784 hospital infections.

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Site helps patients take more active communication role

The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality is working with the Ad Council to raise awareness among patients about the importance of asking doctors about their care. A highlight of the effort is a website that guides patients through a "question builder" to design a personalized list of items to cover with their doctors (www.ahrq.gov/questions).

The questions AHRQ recommends that patients consider asking include: "What is the test for?"; "When will I get the results?"; "What are the possible complications?" and "Are there any side effects?" The site also covers what patients should do before, during and after physician appointments. Videos from patients and physicians discuss the importance of enhancing communication in health care.

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